But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
Jeremiah 17:7
For many people, summer is typically a season for rest and relaxation. Sunshine is plentiful, and the outdoors beckon. Even if a vacation isn’t in the plans, trips to the beach, lake, or river are definitely on the docket. It’s the time of year when we give ourselves a pass to unwind and reboot, literally kicking off our shoes as we relish the warmth that long summer days send our way.
There’s also another delightful aspect to Summer 2021: HOPE is in the air! Despite residual problems from a global pandemic, people not only seem hopeful about the future, but they are also talking more and more hopefully.
For believers, a hopeful outlook is always possible because we have access to God, the Creator of hope. Indeed, the Bible is full of stories about how the Lord has offered hope to individuals just like us. Whether in good times, bad times, or even uneventful, between times, God can give a peace about the present and confidence regarding the future that no one or nothing else can provide. A prayer by the Apostle Paul gives us some insight about what this kind of hope entails:
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
Notice that joy and peace are certainties when you and I choose to put our trust in God. In other words, we are part of the Lord’s hopeful equation. After we take this initial step of belief, the Holy Spirit can powerfully impact our lives, even allowing us to “overflow” with a confidence we never imagined possible. Jesus explained exactly how the Holy Spirit can assist us:
“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own but will tell you what He has heard…” (John 16:13).
Believers have a connection with a powerful triumvirate—God the Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit who look after and provide for us at all times and in every season. This alone should give us renewed hope, even helping us to change our perspective about the negative circumstances we sometimes face while living in a far-from-perfect world:
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.
Romans 5:3-5
These verses explain the most important reason why you and I can have hope: God loves us! Because of this reality, we should be able to trust Him to assist us with our burdens and also help us relish all of His blessings. And no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, we can rest in the knowledge that the Lord is using everything to develop our character, strengthening us in the here and now while preparing us for all the seasons of life yet to come.
At Sonkist Ministries, our prayer is that your summer will be full of hope. We encourage you to dive deeply into the Word, and soak in all the wisdom the Son has to offer. Rest in the joy of your salvation—and be sure to share God’s love with others around you since Harvest season is on the horizon!
Thought of the Month
We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. Let Your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone.
Psalm 33:20-22
