I Prayed have prayed
Lord, You are everything we need! We ask You to fill our hearts with expectant hope, keeping our gaze locked with Your's.
Reading Time: 6 minutes

Hope. Does that word describe what we are seeing around us right now? It’s easy to lose sight of hope when we see natural disasters; widespread persecution of the global Church; a seemingly never-ending spiritual battle for our families, churches, and nations; along with the looming threat of our declining freedoms. Do you still have hope or has the continual barrage of negative media and constant pressure to give into fear led you to feel hopeless?

I must be honest; I have felt the weight of hopelessness. I have immediate family who are unsaved. It seems the more I try, the harder their hearts become and the further they go from God. That’s only on a personal level. I also see the great needs before us on a national level. What I have realized is that when I take my eyes off what God has promised my loved ones, the Church, and the nation, prayer seems harder. When I take my eyes off His promises, giving into despair becomes easier. I need to align myself with His promises. I thank God for His word, promises, and especially His faithfulness, because it never fails – and that gives me fresh hope!

Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. (Lam. 3:21-26 NLT)

This verse is from a book called Lamentations, which means mourning. Lamentations was written by Jeremiah, “the weeping prophet,” and is a written record of Jeremiah’s grief over the fall of his nation. The disobedience of God’s people led to judgment. Time after time God sent prophets to warn, and His word was rejected. Throughout this small book we read of Jeremiah lamenting for the nation and the people, but in chapter 3:19, he says, “I will never forget this awful time. . . .Yet I dare to hope when I remember this.”

He then goes on to talk about the great faithfulness and mercies of God that never cease and are new every morning. Jeremiah’s help isn’t in himself, or anyone else. His hope is in the Lord. Here is a part of the same verse from a different translation. We will find important keys for when we are feeling hopeless:

The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore, will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him. The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God’s word]. (Lam. 3:24,25 AMPC)

  1. The Lord is your portion. A portion is a share of something bigger. He is your share; your inheritance; your prize. That same verse says, “my living being, my inner self” which is your soul. Your soul must know that the Lord is its portion. It’s what caused Job to say, “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.” (Job 19:25) This was Job’s cry even after losing everything and everyone dear to him. The Lord was his everything when he literally was down to nothing. If you are reading this and you have suffered loss of any kind, the Lord is your portion. Times are dark and unpredictable, but the Lord is your’s. In other words, we are not alone no matter what we face.
  2. Hope breeds expectancy. A good definition of hope is “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” When our hope is anchored in the Lord, we are expectant, despite how the circumstances look. We can be confident that God is at work. It’s not because of anything we do, but because of who He is. Hope is expecting God to do what He’s promised. When we are expecting company, we get prepared. We will tidy up our homes and make sure things are in order. If we are expecting God to do the impossible in our lives and this nation, I believe we need to start expecting Him to show up. We need to be prepared and ready.

But as for me, I will look expectantly for the Lord and with confidence in Him I will keep watch; I will wait [with confident expectation] for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. (Mic 7:7 AMPC)

  1. The Lord wants us to seek Him. It’s a bit of a mystery that God hides Himself.  I heard a preacher say, “God doesn’t hide Himself from us, but for us (See Prv 25:2). We not only have the privilege of seeking Him daily; but also we are invited to do so. If you have lost your sense of expectancy, perhaps you’ve stopped seeking. The faithfulness and mercy of God is still available to you. If you feel far away from God, it’s not He who has moved away. All it takes is for you to turn back to God. Fix your eyes on Him again. Now expect that what He has promised will come to pass. Expect that none of His words will return void. Place all your hope back in the Lord and seek His face always. Prioritize your time with Him.

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! (Ps 105:4)

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jer 29:13)

I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. (Prv 8:17)

We do not know what is coming next. Will things grow darker? Will it get worse before it gets better? Only the Lord knows, but will you dare to hope again?

Will you dare to expect that your loved ones will encounter Jesus Christ even in the darkest times? (I don’t know about you, but that’s where He found me.)

Will you dare to hope that we will see the end of abortion?

Will you dare to hope that He will make right all the wrongs and injustice we have seen?

Will you dare to hope and expect that He is at work despite the bad reports?

Will you dare to hope that we will see not only revival in America, but in the nations as well?

We have Jesus Christ; therefore, we have hope. He is the Hope of Glory (Col 1:27).

If you have felt anxious, distant, overwhelmed, or hopeless – let’s pray:

Lord, we come into Your presence with thanksgiving and praise. You are our inheritance. You are everything we need. Thank You for Your great faithfulness and tender mercies every morning.  Despite how things look, we fix our eyes on You, knowing that You who started a good work will bring it to completion. We thank You for Your promises that are all yes and amen in Christ.

I pray for those who are weary from the battle and bad reports. I ask that as they hope with expectation, you will renew their strength so they will soar like eagles. They will not grow weary, nor faint because You who promised are faithful.

Your word says that You are hope to the hopeless, and in His name (Jesus Christ) the nations find their hope. We pray that You will be the desire of the nations (Mt 12:21). I pray for the eyes of every believer to be enlightened that we may know the hope to which He has called us, the riches of His glorious inheritance, and His incomparably great power to us who believe (Eph 1:18,19).

We look forward with expectation to that which You have promised us, with patience, perseverance, and confidence (Rom 8:24,25). You have never failed us, Lord.

We speak Your word to ourselves and say, “Why are you cast down, oh my soul and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise him” (Ps 42:5,6). You are my God and my Salvation.  Even when my eyes can’t see it, I know You are working. I place all my hope, trust, and expectation in You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

See my servant, (Jesus) whom I uphold; my Chosen One in whom I delight. I have put my Spirit upon him; he will reveal justice to the nations of the world.  He will be gentle—he will not shout nor quarrel in the streets.  He will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the dimly burning flame. He will encourage the fainthearted, those tempted to despair. He will see full justice given to all who have been wronged. He won’t be satisfied until truth and righteousness prevail throughout the earth, nor until even distant lands beyond the seas have put their trust in him. (Is 42:1-4 LBT)

Have you been feeling the weight of hopelessness? How did this article speak to you?

Author Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor to listen to her podcast Something To Share.

(Photo Credit: Unsplash, Aaron Burden).

 

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Mary W
September 12, 2021

Thank you and God bless you for this wonderful, encouraging piece!! I especially love the prayer printed and prayed it along with all intercessors as it covers it all!! Our God loves us and He will sustain us. He is doing His most important work even when we do not see it happening. We cling to Him and His promises for He is Faithful and True. Let us not give up but keep on in faith and trust. I was so moved also in learning that a Bible was found intact and open and clean in all the small burnt and broken rubble from Flight 93 that went down in fury on 9-11. Think of this powerful testimony to our Lord!! How I wish this was widely reported so many many people would hear. I thank the Lord for this being shared on ifapray!! That was a HOPEFUL revelation, indeed!! God bless all of you.

Lori Meed
September 9, 2021

Oh Gloria, your articles are always a breath of fresh air – the breath of God blowing over broken hearts.God told me once to be a hope diffuser, you know like essential oil diffusers. That is our call as those who know Him.who is our hope. Great resource: The Power of Hope by Dutch Sheets.

14
    Gloria
    September 9, 2021

    Thank you Lori, that means a great deal to me.I have several of Dutch Sheets books, but I do not have that one.
    Thank you and blessings to you.

    4
Jim H Gardner
September 9, 2021

Dear Lord help us all to be continually “Abiding under your Cross.” I You our Hope springs eternal. Praise His Holy name!

14
Pauline
September 9, 2021

Thank you for this wonderful hope filled article!
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick.” This is certainly where a lot of people are at. I, too, admit I have felt the weight of hopelessness and helplessness. Not so much for myself, but for my family and loved ones, especially my 5 yr. old granddaughter! I’m the “fixer” in the family, and I can’t fix this! All the “fixers” at IFA KNOW what I’m talking about! It’s not a comfortable place to be! I am trying not to rely on my “feelings” for they are very deceptive, and they change, but to rely on God’s Word, that NEVER changes.
I believe, for most of us, we have never been in such a time as this, and never thought we would be. What we are living through, we have never lived through before. Mandated shots?? Who would EVER think the government would even try that? People, living in fear and intimidation in America, land of the free? Families divided over Covid? Unbelievable!
But, our God is more than able, to do exceeding, abundantly, above all that we can ask or think! When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him! No weapon formed against us will prosper! We are more than conquerors, through Christ Jesus, our Lord! Greater is He, who is in us, than he that is in the world! What time I am afraid, I will trust in You! These are just a few of the Lord’s “reminders” to me that I cling onto! Lord we lift up our eyes to You, from where our strength and our hope comes from. It comes from You, Lord, the maker of heaven and earth!

19
    Gloria
    September 9, 2021

    Amen Pauline, this is a beautifully said. I have a 5 year old niece, and nephews and I think about them as well. You’re right God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above anything we could ask or think.
    Blessings to you

    6
Lynn
September 9, 2021

Thank you! We, unlike the Germans in the 1930s, have the technology to communicate with each other like never before. Censorship no longer works! I think this is the classic example of God taking down the wicked by their own devices. Praise God!

13
    Gloria
    September 9, 2021

    Right Lynn,
    Thank God for these resources to connect us and inform us how to pray.
    Blessings

    2
Susan CC
September 9, 2021

Oh my God, bless this woman! I could have written this, certainly not with the eloquence but these are my familiar thoughts….When “we speak Your Word to ourselves and say..” I stop here because in Your Word I always find hope and encouragement. Father, I pray it would please you to honor Gloria’s heart’s desires. I also pray this time is coming sooner than she could ever imagine or hope. I ask this and so much more in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, YOUR HOPE IN US. Amen

Will you dare to expect that our loved ones will encounter Jesus Christ even in the darkest times? (I don’t know about you, but that’s where He found me.) YES, I WAS THE MOST WICKED BUT HIS LOVE SAVED ME….HE WILL DO THE SAME FOR THOSE WE LOVE!

Will you dare to hope that we will see the end of abortion? YES, GOD HAS THIS GLORIOUS DATE CHOSEN!

Will you dare to hope that He will make right all the wrongs and injustice we have seen? YES, I KNOW HE WILL!

Will you dare to hope and expect that He is at work despite the bad reports? YES, I KNOW HE IS!

Will you dare to hope that we will see not only revival in America, but in the nations as well? YES, WITH MY HEART, MIND AND SPIRIT!

We have Jesus Christ; therefore, we have hope. He is the Hope of Glory (Col 1:27). YES AND AMEN, THANK YOU FATHER, THANK YOU JESUS, THANK YOU HOLY SPIRIT!

12
Vickie
September 9, 2021

Lord, You are everything we need. Help us to keep our gaze fixed on You and fill our hearts with expectant hope. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus name and authority, amen!

15
Lynn
September 9, 2021

When you look at the founding of this country, the winning of the revolutionary war, you realize they won against overwhelming odds, they truly did! God’s plan was for them to succeed, against all odds! This country is a miracle. I still have hope that we can still win against overwhelming odds, with God’s help. I still have hope that America will be the final stand against fascism, communism, for the whole world. The buck stops here with America. People are waking up like they never have before, all over the world. There is revival going on! You see it every where. Truth is being revealed & people are realizing their need for God in this battle against evil. Christianity is growing, the Lord is pouring out his spirit! The deep state is now on the defensive, we the people are on the offensive. Praise be to God! Thank you Lord Jesus! God bless America!

16
    Susan CC
    September 9, 2021

    I too believe…Amen to each and every word Lynn!

    9
    Gloria
    September 9, 2021

    Lynn,

    I love this comment. You are so right. People are waking up. I say it all the time, and I share with family members Everytime parents and christians everywhere alike speak out and step up it’s impacting others. Truth is beingring revealed and eyes are being opened. I do agree revival has begun. Father give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that longs to do your will and be apart of it.

    9
Gail Segars Rainey
September 9, 2021

Gloria, what a beautiful name and you are living up to it!!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your article which includes many, many promises from our Heavenly Father. You have now inspired me to sing GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS, one of my favorite hymns, before doing anything else today. The Glory of our Lord lives in GLORIA!!!

15
brian
September 9, 2021

Great, uplifting article, Gloria. As long as we have Jesus, we have everything that we need. NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING, can separate us from His great love for us. This craziness that we see around us is temporary. It is like all man-made things- it is subject to change. He and His kingdom, never change-they are always the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. These are the End Times. Things that we see around us are not overly surprising when we discern the times that we are in. I pray daily for an end- times revival to happen. We so need it. When this temporary part of life ends, we know Whose we are, and where we are bound. Daring to hope means to trust the Lord, knowing that Romans 8:28 still applies to us, no matter what we see happening in the natural. The important thing is, to trust in His goodness, and daily provision.

28
Wendy Teare
September 9, 2021

Praise the Lord! I need encouragement everyday, which comes from the Lord, His word, and other Christians. Thank you Jesus for using us to encourage each other! I was so encouraged by this article I think we need to be aware of what the enemy is trying to do, to pray against it! But let’s not give him too much oxygen by talking as if he has any hope of winning! The Lord is always working for our good and His glory and the victory belongs to the Lord! Hallelujah! Amen

29
    Gloria
    September 9, 2021

    Glad to bring you some encouragement Wendy! We’ve all been there. I love your comment “let’s not give the enemy to much oxygen by talking as if he has any hope of winning”
    You are so right. I think sometimes we don’t even realize we talk more about the problems than the promises. He’s already defeated. Christ is victorious, and we are overcomers and more than conquerors in Christ.

    Blessings

    5
Dawn Beth
September 9, 2021

Amen, Amen🙌🙌🙌thank you Gloria for your awesome exhortation to us who believe. Father Y of are the lifter of our heads, Jesus, You are the rock on which we stand. We will keep our eyes focused on You, our prize. We WILL NOT grow weary in well doing. You are God alone and we put our trust in You🙌🙌🙌
Gloria thank You for the many scriptures to confess and build up our faith.
I cannot begin to tell you how mich of a blessing IFA has been in my life, thank you Dave and team and all of my brothers and sisters who post Spirit led prayers for the edification of the body, these are certainly sweet fragrance to Father God❤️❤️❤️

50
    Gloria
    September 9, 2021

    Dawn Beth,

    So glad to be an encouragement to you. Im thankful to have found IFA as well. It has been such a blessing to my life and it’s a greater blessing to bless others and be able to help. Thank you for agreeing and praying with us.

    4

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