“Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.” (Isaiah 49:23, NIV)
Hope is a hard word for me. To guard against disappointment and pain, I avoid uncertainties like trust and hope. The phrase, “Don’t get your hopes up” has been a life motto for me, because, if my hopes aren’t up, then how can I be let down?
Lately, though, God has been teaching me to believe Him…to take Him at His word, and even to ask Him for things in confident expectancy. For several months, seemingly every scripture I’ve studied, every book I’ve read, every encouragement I’ve received from friends, have all pointed to the fact that God is trustworthy, and that my faith pleases Him. (Hebrews 11:6) God doesn’t just want me to believe in Him for salvation. He wants me to believe Him, period. Rely on Him. Hope in Him.
He wants me to get my hopes up.
This verse from Isaiah reminds me of Paul’s encouragement to the believers in Rome: “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom He has given us.” (Romans 5:5) In other words, in Christ, where is the disappointment? There is no risk of being let down. Because of His unfailing love, I can get my hopes up.
amystorms
Sixty-six books in a year 