Currently in America, fans all over the country are watching the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Last week, number one ranked Duke lost to number five-seeded Arizona. Though Arizona had the talent to beat Duke, not many Duke fans expected the win to be a 93 (Arizona) to 77 (Duke) ending score. With players like Nolan Smith and Kyle Singer, Duke’s high hopes for a NCAA Championship were definitely present. Many Duke players had to relinquish their dreams of obtaining their NCAA Championship, leaving the coaching staff, players and fans alike left with crushed hopes.
Although this is a basketball story, it can offer some insight into our Christian faith. Many of us have dreams and hopes for our future, but somewhere along the way life can take its toll. Whether it is our own choices, unfortunate circumstances, family/friend loss or just finances…we can hit a wall sometimes.
Christ provides us hope in all circumstances, though. No matter what you are going through, He is going through the situation with you!
Here are 7 scriptures you can lean on for hope:
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Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for and hope for and expect the Lord! Psalm 31:24
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And now, Lord, what do I wait for and expect? My hope and expectation are in You. Psalm 39:7
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I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart. All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God. Psalm 38:8-9,15
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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. Lamentations 3:24
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But if we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure. Romans 8:25
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For whatever was thus written in former days was written for our instruction, that by [our steadfast and patient] endurance and the encouragement [drawn] from the Scriptures we might hold fast to and cherish hope. Romans 15:4
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Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12
Think about times in your life when you have felt hopeless.
How has Christ come through for you?