GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: April 5, 2026

Hope

Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible. (Anonymous)

The word faith has a variety of meanings, and is often very difficult to define. To have faith is to trust in something or someone. Of course, that faith is only as good as the one you’re trusting. The Bible asserts that faith must be placed in an invisible but ever-present God. Such faith is rewarded with unexplainable peace and hope.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

Stop & Think: April 4, 2026

Hope

Whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world must first come to pass in the heart of America. (Dwight D. Eisenhower, late US president)

What Eisenhower said about America would be true of any nation and its people. The bigger question, however, is “What is the source of hope?” It would be misplaced in governments and social structures. But, like the word faith, hope can be found only in the God of hope who gives joy and peace along with overflowing hope.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).

Stop & Think: April 3, 2026

Hope

Christians do not hope for something; they hope in someone. (John Stonestreet, apologist)

Stonestreet’s hope is based on the evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a fundamental Christian doctrine. The Bible teaches that if Jesus was not raised from the dead, Christian faith is in vain, worthless. But the evidence of His resurrection is overwhelming, and the believer’s faith in Jesus is a certainty, not mere wishful thinking.

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1).

Stop & Think: April 2, 2026

Hope

One must not tie a ship to a single anchor, nor life to a single hope. (Epictetus, ancient Greek philosopher)

While the rest of us might wrestle with applying this metaphor, seamen will understand the philosopher’s reference to the value of multiple anchors. It surely would be a grave mistake to tie one’s life to a single hope if that hope is misplaced or untrustworthy. The good news is that the Bible presents a single hope that holds promise for life and beyond.

This certain hope of being saved is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls, connecting us with God himself behind the sacred curtains of heaven (Hebrews 6:19).

Stop & Think: April 1, 2026

Hope

Hope: A trusting expectation that God is going to keep His word.

This month, we’re considering the promising thought of hope—the expectation that something we’ve wished for is likely to happen. Biblical hope is more than that, though. It is a certainty based on God’s Word that can be trusted. It’s a critical aspect of faith that one trusts in what God has said, and it’s the bedrock for faith, trust, and hope.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise (Hebrews 10:23).

Stop & Think: March 31, 2026

Leadership

Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another. (John C. Maxwell, author and speaker)

What makes a person a good leader? We’ve all known people who have risen to high positions and have impressive titles, but , in reality, are not good leaders. It’s not position but the ability to recruit and wisely use followers that makes for success. A good leader has a positive and challenging influence on those who work with him.

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account (Hebrews 13:17).

Stop & Think: March 30, 2026

Leadership

A leader is a peer who does not see himself as superior to or different from his followers. (Author unknown)

A good leader, then, is not an autocrat or a tyrant. He may hold a superior position in order to exercise his proper function, but he is not essentially different from those he is leading. It’s a truth sometimes hard to realize when society seems to evaluate success in terms of “climbing the corporate ladder.” A peer relationship will most often result in shared achievement.

Those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and . . . like the stars forever and ever (Daniel 12:3, paraphrased).

Stop & Think: March 29, 2026

Leadership

We become leaders of integrity when we learn to serve without concern for recognition. (Scott Morton, author)

Entrepreneurs who want to be leaders can be energized by a number of incentives. Some try to create a profit-making enterprise by introducing a new means of production or a unique strategy. Others may be motivated by ambition and self-promotion. Morton suggests respected leaders are more concerned about their contribution to society’s benefit than personal recognition.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3).

Stop & Think: March 28, 2026

Leadership

Accepting the conundrum that arrogance is weakness and humility is strength builds foundations for rich leadership. (Dan Rockwell, leadership guru)

A conundrum is a puzzle, an unusual idea. Rockwell explains this one a bit: “Arrogance creates emptiness. Humility builds connections.” In modern minds, humility is often seen as a weakness. The perspective that says, “You have to stand up for yourself and not let others walk all over you,” is backwards. Actually, just the opposite is true. Be a leader whose strength is humility.

Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves (Romans 12:3).

Stop & Think: March 27, 2026

Leadership

The moment you stop learning, you stop leading. (Rick Warren, author and pastor)

All of life is a learning experience. Whether you’re actively pursuing studies in a formal educational setting or not, you are learning from your personal study, life experiences, and your relationships. This is especially important for leaders. You cannot lead your followers effectively if you are not continually learning.

Let the wise listen and add to their learning . . . Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still (Proverbs 1:5; 9:9).

Stop & Think: March 26, 2026

Leadership

You don’t have to be a “person of influence” to be influential. (Scott Adams, cartoonist and author)

Nor do you have to be a leader to be a person of influence. Are you going through life thinking that your life makes little or no difference?  Adams also said, “… the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they’ve taught me.”  Someone is watching you today, so make sure what they see you do and hear you say are the best kind of influence.

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Stop & Think: March 25, 2026

Leadership

Readers are leaders. (Michael Hyatt, British-born actress)

Conversely, leaders are readers. Hyatt continues: “Reading makes us better thinkers, improves our people skills, and helps us master communication.” Eric Metaxas, a current author, writes, “If you want to change the world, pick up a book and read.” How can we find time to read in our busy lives? Here’s an idea: Exchange TV and social media time for reading time.

[The King] must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees (Deuteronomy 17:19).