Hope is so important, don’t you agree? Sometimes it seems hope just . . . disappears! Or – you can barely it see through a pinhole of hope. Regardless, just like –

• Life-saving fluids enter your body through a “pinhole” of an IV needle.
• The “pinhole” of a telescope, microscope, camera, or binoculars provides a refined, clearer view –

 

– so the “pinhole” of hope gives you a more realistic view of life. This is critical – especially during difficult seasons.

This is #2 in a series on hope. I’m excited about this series. I hope you will be, too.

Tear Into It – Pinhole Of Hope

There are always four categories we explore in Scripture Dissection:

1. What Does It Say?
2. What Does It Mean?
3. Make It Personal
4. Make A Commitment.

 

1. What Does It Say?

Scripture overflows with verses about hope. Today, we look at three. 

1. “We wait in hope for the Lord. He is our help and our shield.” (Ps. 33:20)
2. “May Your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in You.” (Ps. 33:22)
3. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” (Ps. 42:5)

 

That’s what those verses say.

2. What Does It Mean?

Now, let’s explore what our Scriptures mean.

1. “We wait in hope for the Lord. He is our help and our shield.” (Ps. 33:20)

We already said sometimes hope just disappears! Or you can barely see it through a pinhole of hope. One of the hardest things to do is wait for God to reveal His hope. In other words, you must practice both patience and confidence in God as you wait.

Meanwhile, it’s critical to know God is already busily answering your cry for hope. Often, this wait feels vulnerable. Interestingly, that’s because you can’t see (or guess) what He’s doing to help. Only by faith, you know He’s covering you.

Nevertheless, this is your unique opportunity to give a gift of love back to God – before you see His intervention.

So – hope in the Lord!

2. “May Your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in You.” (Ps. 33:22)

You can wait on the Lord and be confident of His unfailing love. So, it makes sense to verbalize this. God doesn’t need the reminder. But – you do.

Incidentally, in healthy relationships, it helps to verbalize what’s going on inside you with the other person.

In the same way, take moments to verbalize with God as you put your hope in Him! Not biting fingernails that He “might keep His word.” Rather, choosing confidence in ” . . . what is the incomparable greatness of His power toward [you] who believe, as displayed in the exercise of His immense strength.“ (Eph. 1:19) This is my absolute favorite translation of this verse! (NET)

Notice the words –

• Incomparable greatness.
• His power.
• You who believe.
• Exercise of His immense strength.

 

This Someone really knows what He’s doing. Therefore, you can implicitly trust Him! You are about to witness His immense strength on your behalf!

3. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” (Ps. 42:5)

Everyone has times when they are downcast. Disturbed inside. Subsequently, God wants you to put your hope in Him even before things are resolved.

Additionally, He wants you to praise Him. Afterall, this proves you trust Him in your difficulty.

Of course, verbalizing He is your Savior and God affirms your hope in Him.

So – hope in the Lord!

God’s Great Love

God’s great love makes a way for you. No longer will you have a meaningless, shallow daily existence. Interestingly, trials take on new purpose in God’s love.

Graciously, God – in His rich mercy – has given Jesus to you. Yes, to save you from sin and eternal death through His cross. But there’s so much more!

God’s love is also for living inside hope daily. Truly, many Christians –

• Long for peace.
• Desire joy.
• Need freedom from guilt and shame.
• Yearn for healing of heart and memories.
• Wish for power over sin patterns and hurts.
• Need intervention.

 

Unfortunately, they feel trapped and helpless, not free. So, they cry out to God for hope.

This is what those verses mean.

3. Make It Personal – Pinhole of Hope

Have you ever felt –

• Overwhelmed by your load.
• Also, pushed to your edge.
• Often, disappointed about how situations have developed.
• Sometimes, afraid of what an outcome might be.
• Especially, exhausted as you work hard to carry out what must be done.
• Even weak and weary, lacking the time and energy needed.

 

Are any of those your conditions now? Perhaps you’ve experienced all of them. Accompanying those realities is a certain sadness. Often, hopes of how you thought life would be collide with how it actually turns out. Subsequently, you feel overpowered. Perhaps cheated. Silently, hoping tomorrow will be better.

Then, there’s wondering where hope went. In a flat existence, you barely see the future through a pinhole of hope.

Good News

Well, good news! You can hope in the Lord. Truly, Jesus is your –

1. Help and Shield. (verse #1)
2. Unfailing Love. (verse #2)
3. Deliverer. (verse #3)

 

Here and now, especially if you’re suffering or discouraged, it’s hard to hang onto these truths. However, your circumstances do not limit what God is able to do. Incidentally, He is working for you in unseen dimensions – right now! Best of all, He loves you forever.

In other words, you can enjoy peace of mind and comfort of heart. Of course, this is experienced by faith.

So, how do you get to this place of blessing?

Pinhole Of Hope

Short answer – it’s activated by your faith. At the pinhole of your faith, God infuses His power into your –

• Spirit.
• Mind.
• Body.
• Need.
• Loss.
• Situation of any kind.

 

In other words, your faith opens the pinhole of hope. Thankfully, that pinhole pulls from God’s endless resources to give exactly what you need. Interestingly, it’s similar to how an IV line opens a blood vessel to receive life-saving fluids.

Pinhole Portal Of Stubborn Faith

It’s hard to believe a pinhole can do the trick. Nevertheless, a new, fresh season is always accessed through a pinhole portal of stubborn faith.

Incidentally, it takes resolve to pursue this as you wait on God for renewed hope. So, pursue Jesus Christ. This means –

1. Make Christ your first desire. It is a choice.
2. Second, turn to Him with all your heart. Another choice. 
3. Third, share your struggles with Jesus. A choice to be vulnerable.
4. Fourth, share all details you are experiencing with Jesus. A choice to be personable. Include your – 
   • • Sorrows.
     • Broken dreams.
     • Health needs.
     • Deep hurts.
     • Desperation.
     • Good things still present in your daily life.
     • Etc.

 

This is faith in God’s hope. Fervently, pursue this with all your heart. Give everything you have to it. Subsequently, this is the “living sacrifice” Paul often talks about. Miraculously, something shifts inside you when you do this.

God’s Intention

Thankfully, God intends to –

1. Be your Help and Shield.
2. Cover your life with His unfailing love.
3. Honor praises you offer by faith before you see how He delivers, answers, or intervenes.

 

Oddly, in the here and now of your faith, God begins to infuse His life-giving renewal into you through the pinhole of hope. Of course, God’s timing is always impeccable.

As You Wait

As you wait, here are some action points to refresh your spirit –

• Initially, thank God for every blessing still present.
• Next, continue to manage your life with His principles as you wait.
• Further, train your heart to be patient.
• Also, track all God is doing.
• Plus, rejoice in the God of your salvation.
• Interestingly, this kind of response – when you look through a tiny pinhole of hope – builds your character to be like Christ’s. Then, you can help others when they need hope.

 

And that’s how you make it personal.

4. Make A Commitment

1. Are you overwhelmed in your current circumstances? Do you feel at your edge of endurance?
2. Regardless, are you willing to wait on the Lord?
3. Do you believe He is your Help and Shield?
4. Also, do you believe His unfailing love for you?
5. Plus, when you are downcast or disturbed in your spirit, do you put your hope in God?
6. Do you see God as your Helper in all details of life?
7. Further, do you ponder God’s incomparable greatness on your behalf?
8. Also, are you watching for His immense strength activated for you?

 

Stay tuned to follow this series on hope. More coming!

1. A Message of Hope

 

* Portions of this content come from our book – More e-Pistles For An i-Generation: Relevant In A Digital Age – a devotional book that takes you through all Paul’s letters that follow 1 and 2 Corinthians. You’ll find practical action points that help you know God better and nurture personal growth. You can find this book in our bookstore: www.aliveandactivelife.org/store.

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