The Hope Habit

Have you felt it lately? That sinking feeling when the weight of the world presses in from every side? We all feel the news bombarding us with stories of chaos—wars, disasters, and brokenness. Even in our own homes, the struggles of health, finances, and relationships can make hope feel like a distant memory.

But hope isn’t lost, my friend. It’s not a wish that drifts away with the wind. Hope is a habit. A decision. A choice to lift our eyes above the noise, above the hurt, and fix them on the One who never changes.

When we do, we discover what the psalmist knew so well: Our help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2). He is our constant guide, our steady hand in the storm, ready to lift our heads and remind us that He’s still in control.

Rise Up and Walk

Acts 3 (NKJV) tells the story of a lame man who used to sit and beg outside the temple gate. He had been lame from birth, so he didn’t really expect anything to change in his dismal circumstances.

I meet many believers who are in a similar predicament today. They feel stuck in circumstances beyond their control. Instead of truly entering God’s destiny for their lives, they are languishing outside the gate. And sadly, they’re still looking to other people as their source rather than trusting God as the One who will intervene in their situation.

Yet this man’s story speaks to us today, reminding us that hope is not a mere wish …

It’s an active practice capable of transforming our lives.

All the lame man desired that day was a handout, but God’s plan was to give him a hand UP. The man must have been shocked when Peter told him, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, RISE UP and walk!” (v. 6)

Peter then “took him by the right hand and lifted him UP, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength” (v. 7).

My friend, no matter how long you’ve been paralyzed in some area of your life—your health, your finances, or your relationships—God wants to lift you up today. He wants to give you His hope and His joy.

Though you may have grown used to a life of sadness and regret, all that can change in a moment. As you begin to cultivate a habit of trusting in God’s ability to restore, you’ll see His transforming power at work. Notice that it didn’t take years of therapy for the lame man to recover; God changed his life “immediately”!

The Lord wants to transform us from seeing ourselves as beggars to realizing our birthright as His precious children. When that happens, we go from sitting aimlessly to “walking, leaping, and praising God” (v. 8). And instead of remaining outside the gates of God’s purposes, we’ll finally enter in: “[He] stood and walked and entered the temple with them” (v. 8).

Do you see what a testimony it is to others when we begin to develop a habit of hope? Just as those who witnessed the healing of the lame man, those around us will be “filled with wonder and amazement” (v. 10). They’ll be filled with expectation that what God has done for us, He can do for them as well.

Seeing God as He Truly Is

Like many people, the lame man may have been tempted to get angry and bitter toward God. The enemy wants to use our difficult circumstances to cause us to blame the Lord and lose sight of His amazing plans for us.

But the Bible declares that God is our loving Heavenly Father, and He wants to meet our needs and shower us with blessings. No situation in our health, finances, or relationships is too difficult for Him to remedy (Jeremiah 32:27).

The older I get, the more convinced I become that it’s vitally important for us to see God correctly. This might seem fairly simple, but it isn’t. People often see God as a reflection of their flawed earthly fathers, and they consequently judge Him as cruel … perfectionistic … stingy … heartless … detached … traits that are completely foreign to our Father in Heaven.

Early in Jesus’ ministry, He took time to set the record straight on this. He realized His disciples had to see their Heavenly Father accurately:

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you … What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him (Matthew 7:7–11 NKJV).

If you see your Heavenly Father as He really is, your faith will grow by leaps and bounds! You’ll delight in coming to Him to share your needs: asking … seeking … knocking. You’ll understand His heart to “give good things to those who ask Him!”

Sadly, many people have earthly dads who aren’t so kind and approachable. Some fathers even punish their children for asking, seeking, or knocking, and this often clouds people’s view of God.

My prayer is that you will recognize God as the Father who loves you … the Giver who wants to hear the requests of your heart. Let me encourage you today with the words of Jesus: ask, seek, and knock!

God the Giver

Just as God is a giver, hope has a way of stirring something inside us to give as well—whether it’s our time, our resources, or a word of encouragement. In Ephesians 5:1–2 NKJV, we’re called to “be imitators of God,” walking in love just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us. Hope nudges us to invest in others, trusting that where we sow, God brings the harvest.

Friend, God planted the ultimate seed of hope when He sent His Son, Jesus, to die for us. That seed has blossomed into a harvest of life and transformation—and you are part of that story! As God’s child, you now have the joy and privilege of scattering seeds of hope wherever you go—through your prayers, your words, and your actions.

So, today, let hope rise in your heart. Just as the lame man’s life was forever changed in an instant, so this could be your moment of transformation. God wants to bless you so that you, in turn, can be a blessing to others. He wants to lift you up so you can walk fully into the purpose He has for you.

Let the hope habit take root in your life, and watch how God turns your stuck places into testimonies of His power and love. This is your time to rise up and walk! Don’t let hope slip away.

Keep believing. Keep trusting. Keep looking to God as the source of your hope. He’s always at work in your life, empowering you with His loving joy and transforming you with His ever-present grace.

Your friend and partner,