Revival - Finding God in a Busy WorldSample

Reviving Hope

Joseph had great dreams. He was called the dreamer for a reason, his dream was a spectacular one; he was going to be a man of great influence. You can imagine his shock, despair, and confusion when life dealt him a downpour of lemons - he was forcefully taken out of his comfort zone, away from his family, sold for money, and the culture shock of having to learn a new language, dressing and acting differently.

He got a big promotion, and it seemed he was settling in okay. Boom! He was falsely accused of attempted rape and sent to prison. How bad can things get for a dreamer? Some would even ask, why do bad things happen to good people?

Joseph loved God; he had experienced His love and blessing in this land and was steadfast, but I believe there were times he was tired and restless. I reckon he had daily confessions on sticky notes stuck on the prison walls, a constant reminder of God’s faithfulness to him in the past strengthened and revived his hope. It renewed his trust in God. Hope was the fuel that kept him going. Even in prison, he was famous for trading in hope.

Reviving hope is a present and continuous action. It is a hearty remedy for restlessness.

Have you ever had a dream or expectations that did not come through at a particular time that you hoped that it would? It can be difficult to understand why you need to be hopeful when some things are actively contending for your hope, but you can rest in the confident assurance of God’s promise for you. 'Your hope and expectations will not be cut off.’

My sincere prayer for you is highlighted in this well-crafted prayer by Paul: “May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”