With Hope

Noah was a man whose hope was in God. Noah’s neighbors must have thought he’d lost his mind. In the middle of nowhere, he built a huge ark—a giant boat. They probably laughed at him and called him crazy. After God shut the doors on the ark and the rain fell for many days, Noah needed patience rooted in hope to be cooped up on the ark with his family and to deal with the animals onboard. Even though it rained and rained, Noah’s hope had to be that one day the flood waters would recede, just as God had promised. With no land in sight and no reprieve, his hope had to be fixed on God. Noah had faith and believed God when He told him to build the ark. He listened and patiently followed God’s plans. I am absolutely certain there were times he wondered why. I imagine when he saw all the water and no land in sight, he again wondered. We all do. God’s faithfulness in His promises surely kept Noah going forward, patiently trusting God. God’s promises filled Noah with strength to do what needed to be done. God’s rainbow had to encourage Noah with hope for his tomorrows. As Christians, we have faith in God; He is faithful to do what He promises. He is working all things for His good kingdom purposes—to destroy sin and death and their effects once and for all (Romans 8:28; 2 Peter 3:1-13). We might question. We might wonder. But our God—the God of all the universe—will be faithful. And our hope is in Him. • Anna Gregory • Can you think of a time when you needed hope? • Did you turn to God with your questions? Why can we come to Him with our questions and fears (1 Peter 5:7)? • Read Romans 8:18-39 and 2 Peter 3:1-13. In Christ, what kind of hope do we have for the future? Now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you. Psalm 39:7 (CSB)

Read Verses:

Acts 3-4