The Blessings Of Hope Series

The Blessing of Hope

Romans 15:13; 1 Peter 1:3-5

Online Sermon:

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Life can be so unpredictable—joys and sorrows, beautiful blessings and distressing difficulties can come unexpectedly. Our life’s dreams and plans can change in an instant. We all know this to be true. So how can we find peace amid such turbulence? Horatio Spafford knew something about life’s unexpected challenges. He was a successful attorney and real estate investor who lost a fortune in the great Chicago fire of 1871. Around the same time, his beloved four-year-old son died of scarlet fever. Thinking a vacation would do his family some good, he sent his wife and four daughters on a ship to England, planning to join them after he finished some pressing business at home. However, while crossing the Atlantic Ocean, the ship was involved in a terrible collision and sunk. More than 200 people lost their lives, including all four of Horatio Spafford’s precious daughters. His wife, Anna, survived the tragedy. Upon arriving in England, she sent a telegram to her husband that began: “Saved alone. What shall I do?”

Horatio immediately set sail for England. At one point during his voyage, the captain of the ship, aware of the tragedy that had struck the Spafford family, summoned Horatio to tell him that they were now passing over the spot where the shipwreck had occurred. As Horatio thought about his daughters, words of comfort and hope filled his heart and mind. He wrote them down, and they have since become a well-beloved hymn:

“When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Though hast taught me to know

It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

Perhaps we cannot always say that everything is well in all aspects of our lives. There will always be storms to face, and sometimes there will be tragedies. But with faith in a loving God and with trust in His divine help, we can confidently say, “It is well, it is well with my soul.”

Horatio Spafford’s faith reminds us of the unwavering trust demonstrated by heroes of the faith. Like Spafford, Joseph, Job, David, and Paul clung to God’s promises in the face of overwhelming trials. Let’s explore their stories to see how they found hope amid suffering. Imagine how you would feel if you were like Joseph, sitting in Pharaoh’s prison, left to wrestle with the betrayal of your own brothers who sold you into slavery, and falsely accused of the very crime committed by another. Or if you were like Job, who lost all his wealth in an instant, his children died in a violent storm, suffered devastating health issues, and was criticized and blamed by his closest friends. Picture living in David’s shoes, hunted by King Saul, carrying the weight of guilt for adultery and murder, and grieving the loss of his first child. Later, he faced betrayal by his own son, who seized his throne only to lose his life because of rebellion. Consider the Apostle Paul, to whom God said, “I will show you how much you must suffer for my name’s sake.” Paul endured beatings, stoning, shipwrecks, lashes, imprisonment, and more. How did these men not only survive such suffering but thrive amid unimaginable trials? How could Horatio Spafford, after losing his daughters in a tragic shipwreck, write the words “It is well with my soul”? How could Job declare, “Blessed be the name of the Lord” or Paul proclaim, “I rejoice in my sufferings”? How can we cultivate this hope in our own lives? By meditating on God’s promises, praying for His peace, and sharing our burdens with Christ. Let’s fix our eyes on Him, knowing He will sustain us.

Today, we will explore how these men of faith and countless others found unspeakable joy amid their suffering. They endured because their eyes were fixed on the pioneer and perfecter of their faith, Jesus Christ. Worldly hope is often fragile, rooted in circumstances or our own abilities. Christian hope, however, is unshakable because it rests on the promises of God and the finished work of Christ. Christian hope goes beyond the optimism of seeing light at the end of life’s dark tunnels. Christian hope is not mere optimism but confident assurance in Jesus, knowing our eternal home is secured by the Creator of all things. As we examine their lives and the unshakable hope they clung to, we will discover how we, too, can endure life’s trials with faith and emerge with a peace that transcends understanding.

Hope Rooted in the Promises of God

At the heart of Christian hope lies the unwavering assurance that God always keeps His promises. King David reminds us that even as we walk through the darkest valleys of tribulation, we need not fear, for God is with us, His rod and staff providing comfort and guidance (Psalm 23:4). God promises to never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), assuring us that even amidst the storms of life, He has plans to prosper us, to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Those who place their hope in the Lord will find their strength renewed; they will soar on wings like eagles, run without growing weary, and walk without fainting (Isaiah 40:31). When burdens become overwhelming and our hearts grow heavy, Jesus invites us to trade our yokes for His, promising rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30). Through faith and hope in Christ, we are filled with a peace that surpasses all understanding, guarding our hearts and minds (Romans 15:13; Philippians 4:6-7). As those born of water and Spirit, we no longer fear even death, for we look forward to the Great Banquet in heaven, where Christ will wipe away every tear, and death, mourning, and pain will be no more (Revelation 21:4). With steadfast hope, we await the day we hear His welcoming words: "Well done, good and faithful servant—welcome home!" What storms are you facing today? How can you anchor yourself in God’s promises like Spafford and the heroes of faith?