Tag: Hope

Living with Diligence and Hope in a Changing World

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ANDY ANDERSON

The book of Second Peter reminds believers to remain faithful in a world that is quickly moving away from God. Peter writes to Christians who were scattered and suffering because of persecution. These early followers of Jesus were forced to leave their homes and begin new lives in strange places. They faced new languages, unfamiliar customs, and at times open hostility. Yet Peter’s message to them, and to us, is that their faith could give them the strength to remain steady through it all.

Peter explains that one day “the heavens will pass away with a great noise,” and the earth and all its works will be burned up. Consider this description of the end and what that means to readers. Doesn’t this tell us that everything around us is temporary? Peter asks a simple but serious question: what kind of people should we be while we wait for that day? His answer: We must live in holiness and godliness.

God’s people must make time to study, pray, and think deeply on His word. In a busy world that pulls us in every direction, believers are called to slow down and stay close to Scripture. The Bible is the one thing that keeps us grounded when everything else changes.

The letter also reminds us that God is patient. Some people mock the idea that Christ will return, saying that too much time has passed. But Peter says that God’s sense of time is not like ours. To Him, one day is as a thousand years. The “delay” in Christ’s return is not a failure of promise; it is a sign of mercy. God’s timing is not always what we want, or what we think it should be..

Peter calls believers to live in three ways: to be diligent, to be hopeful, and to be informed.

To be diligent means to make every effort to live in peace, free from blame, and faithful to Christ. This kind of peace is not found in the world but in a right relationship with God. The peace of Christ allows a person to rest even when the world feels uncertain.

To be hopeful is to trust that God’s timing serves a purpose. Consider, every day that passes without Christ’s return is another day for someone to find salvation. This hope should comfort believers as they wait for the new heavens and the new earth, where righteousness will dwell.

To be informed means to stay grounded in the word of God. Peter warns that some people twist the Scriptures for their own gain or misunderstanding. Christians must take time to learn what the Bible really says so they can stand firm and help others understand the truth. A believer who knows God’s word can explain their faith clearly and live it out with confidence.

In the end, Peter’s message is steady and simple. The world will not last forever, but those who belong to Christ have a secure hope. Until that final day, we must live with diligence, hope, and knowledge.

Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Finding Strength in Christ: Hope for Every Struggle

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FLOYD ROGERS

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit — together, they form the divine, supernatural Trinity. This holy God lives within every believer. We are with Christ in God, filled with the Breath of the Spirit. This means followers of Christ have an unbreakable, close, and extraordinary connection with God.

Each morning should begin with a sense of hope and joy, no matter what difficulties life brings. Some might say, “You don’t understand my struggles.” But here’s the truth: if you allow the living Christ to work within you and through you, in His way and timing, it will transform your experience. The challenges you face won’t control your spirit because Christ becomes your strength.

Christ is not just a part of your life — He is your life. And because of Him, you already have victory, no matter what your circumstances look like. This hope is real, living, and powerful, offering peace in every situation.

to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27

Finding Hope in Darkness: Trusting God’s Timing

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AMY TURNER

There are moments when darkness feels overwhelming, and hope seems distant. Psalm 130:6 offers a picture of waiting in those difficult times: “My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.” In ancient cities, guards stood on the walls through the night, keeping watch for any danger. Their eyes stayed alert, not just for threats, but for the first signs of dawn. Morning meant safety, as the light chased away the fears of night.

In the same way, people of faith wait for God’s presence to bring peace and clarity in troubled seasons. The struggles of this world, along with the confusion within our own hearts, can feel like a long, dark night. But God’s word shines as a guiding light, offering truth and comfort when nothing else does. Just as the watchmen trusted that the sun would rise, believers are reminded to trust that God’s light will break through, no matter how long the night feels.

Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105

Finding Hope Amidst Life’s Difficulties

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Life is full of pain, sorrow, and suffering. Everyone experiences guilt, grief, and despair at some point. Sometimes, these troubles come because of our own mistakes and sins. This makes our pain even harder to bear. John Bunyan’s classic book, The Pilgrim’s Progress, gives a vivid example. The main character, Christian, and his friend take a wrong path and end up in Doubting Castle. There, they are captured and beaten by Giant Despair. Christian not only suffers but also feels responsible for leading his friend astray. In such moments, when we face the consequences of our own choices, is there any hope? The Bible shows that hope is possible, even in the ruins of our sin. Genesis 3:20-21 shows us that faith in God’s provision can bring hope and restoration.

Genesis 3 describes the first sin committed by Adam and Eve. It also tells of the punishment they received. But right after the tragedy, the Bible shifts to a message of hope. Two key things happen: Adam believes, and God provides. Faith in God’s provision brings hope even in the midst of sin. In Genesis 3:20, Adam names his wife Eve, which means “life” or “life-giver.” Before this, he had simply called her “woman.” By naming her Eve, Adam expresses faith in God’s promise that life would continue through her. This was remarkable because Adam and Eve had just been sentenced to hardship and death. Yet, Adam chose to believe in God’s word from Genesis 3:15, where God promised that one day, a Savior would come from the woman’s offspring to defeat sin and Satan. Faith means trusting God’s word, even when circumstances seem hopeless. Adam’s act shows that he had a humble and living faith in God. If Adam could trust in God with only a small glimpse of the Savior, how much more should we trust in Christ, who has now been fully revealed?

Genesis 3:21 tells us about God’s response to Adam and Eve’s sin: “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skin and clothed them.” This act was full of grace. Before their sin, Adam and Eve did not need clothing. But now, they felt shame and were exposed to a harsh world. Their own attempt to cover themselves with fig leaves was not enough. So God provided them with better clothing—garments of skin. This likely required the death of an animal, the first sacrifice recorded in the Bible. This event teaches two important lessons. First, sin has a cost. John Calvin suggested that every time Adam and Eve saw their clothing, they were reminded of their sin and its consequences. Second, forgiveness requires a sacrifice. The Bible teaches that “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). The garments foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice—Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who would take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). No human effort can fully cover our sin. Only God’s provision—Jesus’ death and resurrection—can truly cleanse us. Romans 3:23 reminds us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” but through faith in Christ, we receive His righteousness.

Faith is not just the beginning of salvation; it is how we continue to live. In The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian and his friend are trapped in Doubting Castle until Christian remembers he has a key called “Promise.” Using the promises of God, they escape their prison of despair. The Bible is full of promises that can restore our hope. Isaiah 40:30-31 says, “But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good.” Psalm 37:23-24 assures us, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord…though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.” The gospel assures us that God’s grace is greater than our sin. An illustration of this comes from the ruins of Manila after World War II. Amid the devastation, hope remained. Likewise, even in the ruins of sin, hope exists through Jesus Christ.

No matter how broken our lives are, God offers hope through faith in Christ. Now is the time to trust in Him. Pray for His grace, forgiveness, and the faith to believe in His promises. His provision is more than enough for us to rise from the ruins and walk in new life.