“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength…” Isaiah 40:31

I walked into the middle of my teachers’ class as they were heatedly discussing the lottery. Some felt it was a waste of money, others adamantly called it gambling, and several knew a friend of a friend who had bought a ticket and won. One of the younger teachers pulled a handful of tickets from his pocket. We all laughed. “No,” he said before anyone asked. “Never won.” Then a quiet father of a little ballerina we had all seen on his phone spoke up. “Yes, but it gave you hope, didn’t it? It gives people hope. It’s what everyone needs.” 

I inwardly screamed, “No! Not from the lottery!” But I have to ask myself a question. If my hope is not in the lottery, then where? As believers, we are to be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in us. A hope that any Bible concordance will remind you runs through the entire book. From beginning to end, Jesus is our living hope. Is this a daily reality or just the right answer?

I love Isaiah 40–the whole chapter but especially the last three verses. I see the words weary, faint, weak, tired, stumble, and fall. All could be used to write about me. God knows that and includes those words in Isaiah’s writings. The Bible is not about perfect people! 

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.” Psalm 62:5

God does not simply acknowledge my stumbling and fainting. Isaiah assures me there’s more. There’s hope. Hope in a living God. The more I know of him, the stronger my hope. Those who hope in Him will renew their strength, soar like eagles, run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint. These are promises of God. Not wishful feelings nor positive thinking. Not just seeing the glass as half full. Certainly not a lottery ticket. My hope is based in a person. Jesus Christ, my living hope.