Real Hope

"For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures 

we might have hope."

Romans 15:4

Paul can only be speaking of the Old Testament here. He had just quoted from Psalm 69. What was written then was not just for that time, it was written for our instruction as well. "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;" (2 Timothy 3:16). When we study Scripture we see God's perspective on things and find wisdom to deal with the trials and challenges that come into our life. We learn how others persevered through hardship and persecution, and came out stronger in their faith and trust in God. This is the encouragement we need to give us hope in hopeless situations. "You won’t find any hope in the daily newspaper. You won’t find any hope in modern literature. Look at any field and see if you can find any hope. There is none whatsoever. It is dark and dismal when you look out at this world today. My friend, the only place you can find real hope is in the Word of God." (J. Vernon McGee)

I 

Don't Give Up

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." 

Galatians 6:9

William Carey went to India as a missionary in 1793. He worked for seven years with no Indian converts. Carey contracted malaria, lost his five year-old son to dysentery, his wife plunged into mental illness, and he struggled financially. Carey wrote, "This is indeed the valley of the shadow of death to me. But I rejoice that I am here notwithstanding; and God is here." For 41 years he worked in India without a furlough and could only count about 700 converts out of millions of people in India. Yet through his faithful obedience to God's call he inspired missionaries like Adoniram Judson, Hudson Taylor, and David Livingstone, and earned the title "Father of Modern Missions". Whatever God has called you to, if the temptation to give up is very strong, remember William Carey and the seeds he sowed. He may not have seen the harvest while he was on earth, but he surely recognized it in heaven. How many millions of souls are there because of his faithfulness? And how many souls will be there because of yours? Don't give up. At the proper time, you will reap a harvest.