Changi Chapel

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope". – Romans 15;13

1. The Link Between Gratitude and Hope

Gratefulness looks back. Hope looks forward with desire and reasonable confidence and expectation.

By looking back, gratitude fuels forward-looking hope.

Persons who tend not to be grateful tend not to be hopeful.

2. The Link Between Hopelessness and Misplaced Trust

Hopelessness is a curse; it’s the curse of trusting in man or in anything other than God and his perfect wisdom and timing.

Despair looks at immediate realities; hope sees ultimate realities. Some see a hopeless end, but others see an Endless Hope.

3. Then Link Your Hope to the God Who Is Not Done…

God was not done when Noah was in the boat, when Sarah was barren, when Joseph was in prison, when Moses was on the run from Pharaoh, the children of Israel were pinned against the Red Sea, the walls of Jericho blocked possession of the promised land, Gideon was hiding from the Midianites, when Samson was seduced by a woman and blinded, when Ruth was widowed, David was mocked as a boy facing a giant, Job’s children were all killed, when government officials persecuted Daniel, Jonah was in the belly of a fish, Paul couldn’t get rid of his thorn, and Jesus was put in the grave…..

God is not done!

Hope is not undone, because He is not done!

Will you with earnest expectation await the fulfillment of His promises in your life?

Sam Crabtree
Pastor – Bethlehem Baptist Church
Minneapolis, MN

© Sam Crabtree

Your comments, thoughts or suggestions are welcome. The body text is by the author, the header and the words in italics are mine  – John B. Samuel