When your future is hopeful

“Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Prov. 23:18 ESV)

When things look dark

Sometimes, fearful and disappointing things happen making the future appear very dark and foreboding. During times like these it’s important to look at the big picture and understand that what we see is only temporary! It’s also important to understand who we belong to. As God’s children our future is actually very bright no matter how things may look here, or no matter what may happen around us or to us. During a national crisis, someone asked Billy Graham what his thoughts were and he said, “I’m not worried, I have read the last page of the Bible and we win!” Someone else has said, “I stopped worrying about what the future holds when I put my trust in the One who holds the future.”

We are God’s children

“Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3 ESV)

God is in control

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28 ESV)

Therefore…

“In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.” (Eph. 1:11-12 ESV)

“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.” (Rom. 15:13 ESV)

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Rom. 12:12 ESV)

 Quotes:

“Where there is no hope in the future, there is no power in the present.” – John Maxwell

 “Hope itself is like a star – not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.” – Charles Haddon Spurgeon