Against all hope

Shalom Friends,

The Word of God is clear when it declares that God is faithful. The word faithful can have many different connotations. It can mean trustworthy, consistent, or true. But if you flip the word faithful you get full of faith. Can God be full of faith? Yes because all of God’’s characteristics; His Love, Peace and Faith is to the fullest and since we are God’’s children and heirs to His kingdom, we must be full of faith as well.

In Romans chapter 4, we read of Abraham and his hallmark moment of faith when he trusted in God’’s promises ""against all hope"" (verse 18). Hope and faith are not the same. Some people confuse hopeful or wishful thinking with faith. The Bible is clear when it declares that faith is the assurance of things not seen (Hebrews 11). There is no maybe in faith because it is rooted in the promises of God which stem from the faithfulness of God Himself. Wishful or hopeful thinking on the other hand, is fleshly and unspiritual because acknowledges a possibility of a promise not coming to pass in light of an impossible circumstance.

Abraham is an important example because against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ""So shall your offspring be."" (Romans 4:18). This scripture speaks of two hopes. The first is the one we have just mentioned. It is contrary to faith. Humanly speaking, Abraham could not hope in his body to achieve the promise. Rather he put his trust (hope) in the power of God. Furthermore, verse 20 indicates that Abraham did not waiver though his body was dead. The term waiver in Hebrew means to dance in circles.

Abraham did not move back and forth between belief and unbelief but stood fast to the promise of God because He was not expecting something natural to occur but rather understood that in order for the promise of God to come to pass, something supernatural had to take place.

Abraham was fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He promised (verse 21). Are you fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He promised or are you approaching your circumstance with wishful thinking? Remember, there is no maybe or perhaps in faith but full assurance that God will complete and fulfill His promises.

Even in your desperate situation, God has the power to do what He promised and He will.

Faith is not only assurance but it is the first step towards surrender. By surrendering your situation to the Lord, you give the burden to Him and receive His Peace in return. I want to encourage you to stand firm on God’’s promises. Don’’t waiver (dance back and forth between faith and unbelief). God is faithful and He will meet your needs because He cares for you. The most important responsibility we have is to remain faithful to Him everyday.

Shalom!

By: Messianic Rabbi Gennady Livshits