The Lifeline of Hope

The following definition of ‘lifeline’ was provided by Siri… “A thing on which someone or something depends or provides a means of escape from a difficult situation.”

The impact of an unforeseen adversity, or heart wrenching situation can affect one’s psyche and has a way of shaking the very foundation of faith.  It can be most daunting to try and maintain some kind of semblance of hope when being bombarded by outside forces. 

These forces can affect the mental stability and spiritual state of mind associated with faith.  No doubt the level of heartache is dependent upon the severity or intensity of what a person is going through.  Troublesome times can also cause a glitch in the communication factor between God and those that believe in prayer and trust its power. 

Unexpected happenings have a way of testing one’s capacity to maintain faith when hope is bordering on hopelessness or nearing its breaking point.  This can happen when God’s answer to prayer is delayed or not answered in the time that the petitioner thinks it should happen.  (Note) Impatience is not a virtue; patience is.

All the above thoughts can be misunderstood as negative in nature, and lacking encouragement, but the truth and reality are real.  The above is exactly what people endure when facing trouble.  Stay with me.

Things happen to everyone; no-one is exempt from pain or suffering—it’s life.  How we handle this misery is what matters most.  The Bible says that problems fall on the just and unjust alike, but then there’s God!

When effectual, fervent prayers are exercised and maintained, faith has a way of magnifying the light of God’s power and does not illuminate the problem even in our darkest hour when doubt tries to creep in like a thief in the night.

Through prayer, born-again Believers can stand in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, recognizing that He is the hope for all tribulations. 

(James 5:16), “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Most everyone has heard the phrase, “Keep the faith.”  These are powerful words to remember in times of trouble, but it requires perseverance in prayer to do so.  When we submit our emotions, anxieties, and questions to the Lord, while grasping onto faith, we stand our ground and demonstrate trust in God as we face oppositions.  This keeps hope alive in our heart. 

Prayer is the lifeline of hope, and when coupled with faith, they bring peace when we need it the most.  Together they become our stronghold that helps us maintain open communication with God.  Without hope, hearts can real and rock under the strain of unanswered questions that may cause a person to fear the worst.

Do not give fear a seat at the table of hope.  Fear does not have the final say, God does.  When we stand on the Truth of God’s word and pray, this act of faith enables hope to move any situation beyond the finite question of “why” and brings us into the infinite, spiritual realm of God’s realism of hope that allows us to expect and believe Him for miracles.

The Holy Spirit, our Comforter, brings comfort to the weary and hope to worried hearts through prayer.  God’s bountiful love goes beyond our wildest dreams when He speaks peace during the hard times.

(1 John 4:18), “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

Intercessory prayer is the lifeline of hope that keeps doubt at bay.  Doubt is most assuredly initiated by our adversary, the devil.  Though he tries to poison our faith in Jesus with lies and unfounded bombast, we can stand on the promise of God.

(1 John 4:4), “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”    

As I said, it can become a challenge to keep the faith and maintain a positive outlook when our mind is fighting off negative thoughts that Satan throws our way.  He tries to deplete the hope we have in Jesus through his antiques. 

On occasion, my faith is shaken and wains a bit when it seems as if the heavens are brass when I pray.  I’m sure you’ve experienced the same feeling of aloneness, but we walk by faith and not feelings.  Feelings can be misconstrued as factual, and we fail to see the reality of the spiritual realm.

If loneliness rises and shouts with a loud voice in your soul, “Where is God?!” this is the time we can lay honesty on the altar before God and humbly say, “I believe, but help me overcome my unbelief.”

Jesus wants us to be honest concerning our feelings and thought process.  He understands us better than we know ourselves.  If we give ear to the devil’s lies that God is too busy to care about our hardships, this can bring about fear, and cause hope to crumble.

Satan tells us we have no hope and that we are standing alone to face the challenges ahead.  He tries to convince us that we lack strength to overcome the trial by saturating our hope with false misgivings.  But God will someway get the glory out of any situation when we stand in His strength.

God’s amazing love goes far beyond our natural understanding of things.  It is hard to grasp the enormity of God’s agape love that He has for us.  The Bible says that we see through a glass as if it were very foggy.  God’s ways are far beyond our understanding.

(1 Corinthians 13:12), “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” 

Remember this: negative thoughts are generated by the devil and are merely smoke screens to try and overshadow or cover up God’s miraculous power from our tear-filled eyes.  Satan wants us to doubt the superiority and power of Almighty God, with headwinds of negative thoughts, while using people having personalities like job’s comforters to sow platitudes of doubt.

We may not see what’s around the corner, but we need not fear the unknown when God is in control.  We must keep our eyes always on Him.  Rebuke Satan in the name of Jesus and plead the blood of Jesus over your situation!

Keep bombarding heaven with prayers and continue to look for and expect miracles to happen.  Prayer is the lifeline of hope that maintains our faith in Jesus.  Faith moves the hand of God in our behalf.  The following scripture says that we have a High Priest who is touched by the feelings of our infirmities. 

(Hebrews 4:15), “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

(Hebrews 11:1), “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Whatever troubles us, concerns God.  He has a plan for us and will bring it to fruition in His time.  We must always trust in God’s sovereignty, because He has our best interest at heart—always.  This trust is maintained through prayer, the lifeline of hope.

Don’t allow the devil to steal your hope or shake your faith in Jesus…trust in God; He will never leave nor forsake you.

www.wordsfrompapa.blogspot.com

Written by,

Papa Boyd