There have been trials in my life where there was nothing more that I could do to remedy them. I was at the end of my rope, just clinging to hope. What is this hope, you may ask? Well, hope is not something that comes naturally to anyone. It is developed, like a good muscle. But to the believer, hope is something we don’t see, but we believe in faith that God will work everything out in His time.

Psalm 42:5  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Hope does not bring my trial to an end, but it encourages me along the way despite the tumultuous waves! I think of Peter’s faith as he attempted to walk on the water to meet Jesus. (Matthew 14:22-33) When he saw the boisterous wind, he took his eyes off Jesus (who was right in front of him) and began to sink. There’s a lesson in there for us. We may not have Jesus right there in front of us visually, but we have His Holy Spirit living within us. Therefore, He is with us all the time! I’m sure you’ve heard countless messages on this very topic. However, have you personally learned this lesson through your own trial?

The enemy loves to do his work during the turmoil of life. This is where he digs his feet in and pursues every angle he can in order to cause you to sink deeper into your despair. But friend, there is hope in Jesus! Jesus does not cause anxiety but relieves it when we allow Him to do so. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Are you in the midst of a trial? Is your trial one that will never go away, such as health issues? This is the hardest one because you can never escape it, unless God miraculously heals you. However, when this is not the case, you must fix your eyes on Jesus. I think of the Apostle Paul asking the Lord to remove the thorn from his side. But Jesus responded:

2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

When we are at our weakest, God knows that we have no where to go for help but to Him; just as Peter had no where to turn but to Jesus. It is here that His strength can be found to withstand the trial, day in and day out. It is there you will find the power to withstand the hardship. It is there that the Lord will hear your faintest whisper of despair. It is in this trial that you will find ways in the Scriptures to keep you going forward for the Lord.

The word temptation is mostly used as it relates to being tempted to sin. However, it is interesting to find that the Greek word implies more than that:

πειρασμός
peirasmos
pi-ras-mos’
From G3985; a putting to proof (by experiment [of good], experience [of evil], solicitation, discipline or provocation); by implication adversity: – temptation, X try.

We see this usage in the verse below. God is faithful and will provide a way for you to bear your trial. He will provide you with the strength to carry on.

1 Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Through every trial, the believer can find comfort in reading the Scriptures. It is there that we find our strength and will to persist. This is the “escape” spoken in the verse above. In the Scriptures, the downtrodden believer can find light at the end of the tunnel. The believer can see the morning’s sun rise after the darkest night of despair. I love today’s hymn for this very reason. Although it does not appear that the writer was a believer, but the Lord sure used him to pen words that are such a blessing!

Whispering Hope – by Septimus Winner (pseudonym Alice Hawthorne)

1 Soft as the voice of an angel,
Breathing a lesson unheard,
Hope with a gentle persuasion,
Whispers her comforting word.
Wait till the darkness is over,
Wait till the tempest is done,
Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,
After the shower is gone.

Chorus:
Whispering Hope
O how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice.

2 If in the dusk of the twilight,
Dim be the region afar,
Will not the deepening darkness
Brighten the glimmering star?
Then when the night is upon us,
Why should the heart sink away?
When the dark midnight is over,
Watch for the breaking of day. [Chorus]

3 Hope as an anchor so steadfast,
Rends the dark veil for the soul,
Whither the Master has entered,
Robbing the grave of its goal.
Come then, O come, glad fruition,
Come to my sad weary heart,
Come, O Thou blest hope of glory,
Never, O never depart. [Chorus]
O blessed Hope!

If you are desperately looking for this hope I speak of and have never been born again, please follow this link and it will show you how to be born again according to the Scriptures.