This blog has two parts. The first part, Hope That Will Not Be Denied, considers what undying hope accomplishes for the believer, [1] and this second part reports HOW God instills hope in us in the midst of life’s storms.

“Hope Walks the Path Ahead with Inner Peace.”

In our dark and doubtful moments God desires to meet us with his peace. To get us there he raises up an undying hope within us by his Spirit that believes that no matter how it’s going right now, he’s got us in his Grip of Grace and is taking us to the best of all possible worlds.

When in trouble and I look to God for good solutions, what can I expect him to do?

• Rescue me with healing, enough resources, and a clear path forward? From our perspective we are often tempted to think health and security are the only things that could possibly matter. What could be more important practically for our happiness than circumstances becoming less difficult?
• Vindicate me with obvious, divine favor and protection? In times of struggle with others, we could believe the only truly comforting solution is one that empowers us in relation to those with whom we struggle.

I don’t think it is wrong to anticipate the two answers given above — IF our hope is that God would be glorified and His good will accomplished in our lives even if he does NOT give us immediately what we long for.  

Did you notice the word “HOPE” just now?

Jeremiah looked to God in faith, lifting up his prayer of lament to him. God heard his lament and gave him answers that did NOT deliver him from trouble, but sustained his soul and empowered him to run the distance of the race God had set before him. [1] The Psalmist experienced the same thing, but found God to be absolutely trustworthy, and his presence more to be desired that anything else.[2]

How does God personally comfort his people? [3]

When in trouble and I look to God for good solutions, what can I expect him to do?

In my walk with other believers, I’ve been privileged to hear how God has strengthened and comforted them. As I’ve been listening lately, I’ve begun a list that may prove helpful to you as you hope in God for yourself and others. This list doesn’t mention circumstantial rescue or physical healing that may certainly occur and bring comfort to someone, and it doesn’t mention being vindicated in front of someone else although that too can be comforting.

What I’m amazed at in the stories of my friends and family is the focus on INNER strengthening and INNER peace. Undying hope rising in hearts is what helps God’s people emotionally and gives them the desire to wait upon him — to trust that a good outcome only God can create is coming their way.

But undying hope doesn’t walk forward in weakness or distress, but anticipates God’s intervention with inner peace.

As you read through the following list, can you hear the echo of your own story? I encourage you to take note. And then, as you are speaking with others, draw from your understanding of these testimonies and the Scriptures reference with each…

Ten ways the Good Shepherd carries his people through the trouble and on to the good that he has in his heart to give them:

1. “He brings to my attention scriptures, stories and songs of faith that inspire my faith in his eternal promises.” Romans 15:4, 11-13
2. “He strengthens me by breathing his Spirit into the portions of his word that I recall and meditate upon.” Psalm 119:1-2, 25-32, 41-42, 49-56; Romans 11:33-12:2
3. “The Spirit of God assures me that I am a beloved child of God. Because of this I know he delights in me and cherishes who I am as a unique individual. I am accepted and forgiven, cleansed and given a seat at the table of the Eternal King.” Acts 9:31; Romans 8:14-17; Isaiah 61:1-4; Joel 2:28-29
4. “God gives peace or calmness to my soul that can’t be explained by my circumstances.” Psalm 116:1-19 ESV
5. “God assures my mind and heart that he personally bears my sorrows and my lament offered to him is a reflection of his own grief over the sins and brokenness of our world.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, 20-22
6. “The Lord causes hope to rise within my soul.” Romans 4:13-25; 15:4,11-13
7. “Jesus helps me to take the next step in front of me.” Isaiah 30:20-22; Proverbs 2:1-15; 3:5-8; Mark 8:33-35, 10:17-22; John 8:12-13
8. “God opens my eyes to see his almighty power working in and with all of creation to work it all together for our everlasting good and his eternal glory.” Genesis 1:31; Matthew 6:25-34; Acts 3:18-21; Romans 8:18-30; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 1:7-10; Philippians 4:12-13; Colossians 1:15-23
9. “My heavenly Father gives me rest for my body and respite from my suffering in ways I don’t expect.”Matthew 11:28-30, 19:26; Psalm 23; Psalm 30; Psalm 34:17-19; Isaiah 40:27-31; Jeremiah 17:14; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, 12:9-10
10. “The Lord inspires in my family and friends a desire to provide compassionate ministry to me.” Luke 5:17-39; John 13:1-20; James 5:13-18

To God be the glory—great things He hath done!

Those ten testimonies from God’s people demonstrate that in our dark and doubtful moments God desires to meet us with his peace. I am personally experiencing all ten ways God comforts His people from time to time, and I pray you also are enjoying His presence in these ways.[4]

To get us to the place those ten ways of God become our own testimony is a work of grace. In each of us who turn to him in our trouble, with grateful surrender and childlike trust, he raises up an undying hope which helps us to believe that no matter how it’s going right now, he’s got us in his Grip of Grace.

There, we rest, knowing he is taking us to the best of all possible worlds. The hope rising in our hearts by the Holy Spirit is God’s work within us to help us to trust in God as we take the next step. And as we do take a step forward with hope, we discover we begin to walk in a peace that is beyond understanding.

[See blog post: “Three Corn Pieces & Trust Issues”]

The following lyrics to “His Glory And My Good,” by CityAlight Music, truly reflect the faith-walk experience I seek for myself and all God’s children. You can listen to it on YouTube by clicking on the title of the song. Enjoy!

His Glory And My Good [5]

Verse 1. I have seen my Father’s glory | Revealed in Jesus Christ | And the more that I behold Him | The more He satisfies | When I gaze upon His beauty | When I see Him as I should | Then my eyes are lifted upward | For His glory and my good

Verse 2. There is hope in every trial | For I can trust the Lord | He will turn my heart towards Him | And help me bear the thorn | So in faith I follow Jesus | On the road not understood | For I know that He is working | For His glory and my good

Chorus 1. To our God be the glory | To our God be praise | He alone the name above all names | I will boast ever only in the Lord my God | For I know His glory is my good

Verse 3. See the open arms of Jesus | Upon the cross that day | What they understood as weakness | Deserves my every praise | For the charge that was against me | It was nailed into the wood | Yes I know that He has saved me | For His glory and my good

Verse 4. Would I gladly be made nothing | That Christ would be made more | Would I seek the only kingdom | That far outweighs them all | I will stand before my Father | Where the faithful saints have stood | And with joy my heart shall praise Him | For His glory and my good

Chorus 2. To our God be the glory | To our God be praise | He alone the name above all names | I will boast ever only in the Lord my God | For I know His glory is my good | For I know His glory is my good

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[1] Jeremiah 8:18-22, Lamentations 3:19-27, Cf. Hebrews 12:1-11

[2] Psalm 23:5; 73:26; 130:1-12

[3] Deuteronomy 4:29-31 ESV; Psalm 50:14-15 ESV; Jeremiah 32:26-27 ESV; Matthew 5:4 ESV; Mark 9:23 ESV

[4] Ephesians 1:13-21

[5] Ben Fielding, Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson | CCLI Song #7235691 | © 2024 City & Vine Music Publishing Australia; CityAlight Music | For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use.  All rights reserved. http://www.ccli.com | CCLI License #1490527

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[1] Abraham’s life is proof of the necessity of faith to personally receive and live by God’s promises. His faith was lived out in the presence of the God “who gives life to the dead” (think Jesus Christ raised in glory) and “calls into existence the things that do not exist” (think a Holy Spirit-infused Christ-follower). What has captured my attention is that Abraham’s active faith, like my own, could be described as an undying hope, or in the words of Abraham’s Romans 4 story, a “hope against hope” (Romans 4:13-25) Later in Romans (Romans 15:4, 11-13) the Scriptures teach faith like Abraham’s can be described as an “abounding hope” — or being born again to a “LIVING hope” as Peter describes it (1 Peter 1:3-6).

Now, that is true comfort for the soul in trouble! And in the perspective of this blog, proof of the Holy Spirit’s power rising up within us who believe in Jesus Christ.