Manna in the Morning

Today I received an e-mail from Chuck Colson, the heading of which simply asked the question, "Do you need hope?" Being fairly sure that he was not referring to Bob Hope I opened the e-mail to read more. Also today, I have received an e-mail from the wife of a dear friend who is battling cancer and survives on "hope in God!" I also heard from one of our missionary families who are wrestling with a monumental decision about going back to the mission field oversees that would separate them from their families by great distances... they are hoping for clear direction from God. All of these notices drove me to the Scripture to be reminded about the hope that we have that is fully anchored in Jesus Christ, "who is our hope!" Job of old asked, "Where now is my hope? Will it go down with me to Sheol? Shall we together go down into the dust?" (Job 17:15-16) Sometime later Job got his answer directly from God. David also made this declaration in Psalm 39, "And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in Thee!" (Verse 4) Some years ago I developed an acrostic with the word "H.O.P.E." It helps me quite often when I need to be reminded of just how much I can depend on God. Hope is a Heavenly Optimistic Powerful Expectation! One last word from the Word: "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit!" (Romans 15:13).