5 Practical Ways to Strengthen Your Hope in God

As a Christian woman, you know in your heart that God is faithful to His promises. In trying situations, you can be overwhelmed and feel your hope in God has been shaken.

2 Peter 3:9 NIV “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Here are 5 Practical Ways to Strengthen Your Hope in God:

Talk to the Lord in Prayer
Read God’s Word
Review God’s Promises
Have an Attitude of Gratitude
Fellowship with Other Believers
Conclusion

Talk to the Lord in Prayer

You Are to Commit to Prayer

Romans 12:12 NIV “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

In Romans 12, the Lord speaks through Paul to tell us what a Christian should look like. In verse twelve, three of the Christian attributes are to be joyful in hope, patient in trials, and faithful in prayer.

Being faithful in prayer is consistently going to the Lord, having a habit. It is something you need to do for spiritual growth in your Christian life.

You Can Go to the Lord About Anything

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

When you feel hopeless, you can go to the Lord and tell Him. He won’t get mad. Hearing from you is important to Him.

In the verse above, you are releasing anxiety and gaining God’s peace. Remember to thank Him for this privilege.

The Lord Blesses You with Rest

Matthew 11:28 NIV “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.“

In trials, you can become exhausted. You have a source for rest in Jesus Christ; ask Him for it.

When you don’t let your emotions reign during trials, it doesn’t mean you don’t care. It allows the best of yourself to be seen in love.

Read God’s Word

Hope Comes Through God’s Word

Psalm 119:49 NIV “Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope.”

This chapter in Psalms, 119, is written about the greatness of God’s Word by David. In this verse, he says hope is given to him through God’s Word.

The Bible stands today just like it did in David’s time. It is as great as ever and powerful to help you in your weaknesses. It still gives hope.

The Bible Gives You Encouragement

Romans 15:4 NIV “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.”

Scripture was written with a purpose for every word. Yes, it comes from a time different than ours, yet it speaks about everything in life you are faced with.

Because of the testimony of God’s Word, you gain encouragement through its teaching. This gives us hope to carry on.

God’s Word Gives Us Hope in Our Trials

Psalm 119:28 NIV “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.”

David had many occasions to be anxious, but He always knew where to go for relief. It’s the same for you today. The Lord wants your heart to be comforted.

If you do not have a regular time of prayer and reading God’s Word, try setting time aside this week and keep it going all week. It will transform your life and hope will be restored. Take one small passage, meditate on it and talk to the Lord about it.

Review God’s Promises

God’s Promises Refresh Us

Psalm 119:50 NIV “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.”

David takes God’s promises literally. “Your promise preserves my life”. He knows that he can depend on God’s Word because it has helped in the past.

Depending on God for His promises deepens your trust in Him. You learn that He is reliable.

Look to God’s Word for fulfilled Promises

Isaiah 9:6 NIV “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.“

This is God’s promise and prophecy that a Messiah is coming. Of course, this is fulfilled in Luke 2:6-7 NIV “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.“

This promise, as witnessed by God’s Word, encourages hope in your heart. This helps, as well as many other promises that are fulfilled.

Look at Past Experiences

Psalm 121:1-2 NIV “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

If the verse above is your testimony, this is an encouragement to renewing your hope in God.

Have you ever had a moment in the car when coming so close to a wreck that it took your breath away? I have. My husband, mother, and I were on our way back from Kansas to Texas. I looked up and saw the backend of the car in front coming toward me. I closed my eyes, prayed, and prepared for a crash. The tires on the vehicle were squealing loudly as they skidded to a halt. It ruined all four tires, but the car stopped. Only by God’s hand, that is. We were going seventy miles an hour.

That’s a testimony to remember when your faith is weak. Hasn’t God fulfilled His promise of taking care of you before?

If he fulfilled that one, isn’t He capable of fulfilling all of them?

Have an Attitude of Gratitude

Gratitude in All Circumstances

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

It is God’s will for us to be grateful. Think of all God has done for you.

Salvation through Jesus Christ
The Holy Spirit
The Bible
Prayer
Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Provisions for food and all the things you need.

This list is just the beginning of all God has done. Your heart should be overflowing with gratitude in any circumstances.

Your Fruit Should Show Your Gratefulness

Colossians 3:17 NIV “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Paul tells us here that whatever you do, it should be to the Lord’s glory and to give thanks to God the Father through Him.

Your words and deeds should show how grateful you are to Him for what He did for you. Enough that it shows in the way you live.

Open Your Prayers with Thanksgiving

Psalm 100:4 NIV “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”

Praising God is very uplifting in spirit. The first thing in prayer should be acknowledging who God is and praising Him for who He is.

It’s hard to be discouraged when thinking about how great God is and trying to put it into words.

Fellowship with Other Believers

You Are to Meet with Other Christians

Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Some think it’s not required to meet with other Christians, especially in church. But it is something we are told to do.

There are many reasons to meet together. Two are mentioned in this verse.

It’s a way to encourage one another.
Especially as you see the Day of the Lord coming.

Christians Strengthen One Another in the Lord’s Will

Proverbs 27:17 NIV “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

You can learn so much from others’ experiences. Is it better to learn from their experience or yours?

There are many ways you can help others through your experience. Some you may not even think of.

By fellowshiping with others, you grow in knowledge and, even more importantly, compassion and love.

Community is a Place to Share

Romans 12:10-13 NIV “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

You learn how to share without partiality with other Christians. The Lord was not partial toward anyone.

The church is to be the instrument to bring all Christians together. This verse says to share with those in need, both outside the church and within its walls.

The idea here is that when you are suffering through trials yourself and you reach out to someone else who is suffering, your pain is diminished as you think of others. Your comfort becomes theirs.

Conclusion

Building your hope means restoring your confidence in God’s promises. You have to hold on to your hope unswervingly by practicing ways to strengthen you.

These are five ways for you to strengthen your hope in the Lord.

Talk to the Lord in Prayer
Read God’s Word
Review God’s Promises
Have an Attitude of Gratitude
Fellowship with Other Believers

Suffering through trials is challenging at best, but you have a God who can give you hope and strength to get through it.