Faith and Hope Is Powerful in Overcoming Challenges
Most of us have had or will experience challenges in life. These challenges include, among others, the death of a loved one, a breakup, an accident, not having a job, and exam failure. Such problems may appear insurmountable sometimes. Thankfully, faith and hope can help us overcome all kinds of challenges.
Let’s learn how these two incredibly powerful forces contribute to calmness, strength, resilience, and confidence in adversity. However, we should first understand the meaning of faith and hope to Christians.
What Is Faith and Hope in Christianity?
Faith means having complete confidence or trust in something or someone while hope is feeling that something positive will happen. The Christian definition is close. The difference is that we put our trust in God, not someone else or objects. We define faith as the belief in God, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and His teachings. It is the foundation of Christianity!
On the other hand, believers define hope as the expectation of God’s goodness and mercy in life and the eternal life to come. It is not just wishful thinking. Instead, it is a steadfast assurance in the promises of God. Hope inspires us and ensures we tread every step by Jesus’ teachings. Faith and hope are intertwined and have powerful forces that sustain us through difficult times.
Four Ways Faith and Hope Can Help Us Triumph Over Difficulties
Believing in God and trusting that He has better plans for us can help us overcome many challenges. Here are four reasons why we need faith and hope in hard times:
1. Resilience
The Good Book in James 1:2 reminds us to consider troubles as opportunities for great joy. But how exactly can we withstand the many troubles we face in life, particularly those that drain and make us feel like losers? We can recover from any difficulty through resilience. And we can be resilient if we put all our trust (believing and being hopeful) in God. Whatever trials come our way, God will certainly get us through them.
2. Strength
Adversity requires inner strength to persevere, which is what faith and hope provide. They motivate us to keep going when things seem to be tough. Spiritually, faith gives us hope in knowing that God has a greater plan for us and that we will endure all struggles.
With faith, which gives us hope, we are certain that every hurdle brings us closer to realizing our dreams. Simply put, we understand that no challenge is beyond reach, and we can do all things through Him who strengthens us, as the Bible states in Philippians 4:13.
3. Calmness
Difficult times may be disturbing and stressful, making it difficult to have the peace of mind to counter the problems. As such, we should be calm and ask God for the needed peace whenever we have challenges. Faith and hope can make us believe in a helper greater than us, God. He can help us to cultivate a calm and centered mindset, even in the face of the worst uncertainty.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid,” states Jesus in John 14:27. To illustrate, God’s word, which instills faith and hope, gives us tranquility amidst the turmoil.
4. Confidence
As mentioned, faith and hope give us the resilience, strength, and calmness we need to face life’s trials. Yet, when we have the trio, we are confident that God, who never fails, is always with us even when things are not okay. The Word of God breeds confidence, as David says in Psalms 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” With faith plus hope, we are brave enough to trample any hurdle.
The Power of Prayer
Faith and hope manifest through prayer, which allows us to connect with God and seek guidance to keep us going in times of turmoil. But how can we be hopeful and have faith without prayer? Praying renews our faith in God and assures us that He is there for us even in the most challenging circumstances.
In addition to praying, we should read the Bible daily to learn how to keep our hope in God. The Bible teaches us how to pray and reminds us of the winnings we shall score after every difficulty.
Faith, Hope, and Action
In James 2:20, we learn that “…faith without works is dead.” That means that when faced with challenges, we should have faith (and hope that everything will be fine), but we must act to solve the problems. For example, when someone we love falls sick, we should be hopeful and believe they will get better. However, we should also pray without ceasing and take them to the hospital.
When out of employment, we should trust God and seek his guidance but go a step further and apply for jobs. The same principle applies when business is not good and when we are broke. Losing a relative or friend is quite a different challenge and might be the toughest to accept. Nevertheless, we should understand that God knows everything that happens (Proverbs 15:3), embrace the loss, and seek God’s strength in these trying times.
Put simply, hope and faith should not just be a passive response to difficulties. Instead, they should be catalysts for taking proactive steps toward resolution.
Wrap Up
Hope and faith offer the resilience, strength, tranquility, and confidence Christians need to face adversity. However, faith and hope alone can not conquer our difficulties. We must also pray, read the Bible, and take other necessary actions. May God grant you the blessings needed to overcome all problems.
