To Live Better Add Hope

The renowned psychologist and psychiatrist Alfred Adler once said, “Hope is the foundational quality of all change.” If you want to make some changes in 2016 and have a better year, you will need to add a generous portion of hope.

The key to having hope is having the right source. If you place your hope in the present world, your circumstances or the people in your life, you may be disappointed. But there is a hope that God gives, which like the rising sun brightens your path. The apostle Paul puts it this way: “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting comfort and hope, which we don’t deserve, comfort your hearts with all comfort, and help you in every good thing you say and do.” (2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 TLB)

The key to having hope is having the right source.

If your hopes have been dashed in 2015, God is there beside you to comfort you by refreshing your hope. It is not over, your dreams are not dead, and as Proverbs 23:18 states, “there is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”

As you enter into 2016 I encourage you never to lose heart and quit believing, you will see God’s goodness. Pastor Bill Hybels writes about an interesting experience after a baptism service in their church. “I bumped into a woman in the stairwell who was crying. I thought this was a little odd, since the service was so joyful. I asked her if she was all right. She said, ‘No, I’m struggling.’ She said, ‘My mom was baptized today. I prayed for her every day for almost 20 years. The reason I’m crying is because I came this close to giving up on her. At the 5-year mark I said, “Who needs this? God isn’t listening.” At the 10-year mark I said, “Why am I wasting my breath?” At the 15-year mark I said, “This is absurd.” At the 19-year mark I said, “I’m just a fool.” But I just kept trying, kept praying. Even with weak faith I kept praying. Then she gave here life to Christ, and she was baptized today. I will never doubt the power of prayer again.”

The Psalmist David puts it this way; “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27:13-14 NKJ)

Hope is linked to your identity; if the enemy can rob you of who you are you will soon slip into a state of hopelessness. There are days you need to remind yourself that God is with you and what you are trusting Him for will come to pass – it just might take a little longer than you thought. Listen to what David said to himself; “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.”

There are days you need to remind yourself that God is with you and what you are trusting Him for will come to pass

You will find that hope in your heart will brighten your countenance. David gives us a key to combatting discouragement and that is to praise God, even when our hope seems weak. As you go into 2016 praise God in advance for breakthroughs that are on the way, for answers that are coming, for relationships that will be made, for provision and for His guiding presence.

As the author John Maxwell said, “If there is hope in the future, there is power in the present.” May your 2016 be your best year yet!