GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: May 2, 2026

Faith

Prejudice, a dirty word, and faith, a clean one, have something in common: they both begin where reason ends. (Harper Lee, author)

There is that similarity between those two terms, of course, but there is a huge difference, too. Prejudice is the result of misinformation or poor logical deductions. Faith, on the other hand, exercises careful thinking, recognizing that there is truth beyond human understanding. Genuine faith is based on a solid foundation of revealed truth (God’s “word, which is truth” John 17:17).

The righteous will live by faith (Romans 1:17).  

Stop & Think: May 1, 2026

Faith

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

This month’s theme is Faith, a word with a variety of meanings, and 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.

Faith is the assurance of things you have hoped for, the absolute conviction that there are realities you’ve never seen (Hebrews 11:1).

Stop & Think: April 30, 2026

Hope

Hope fills the afflicted soul with such inward joy and consolation that it can laugh while tears are in the eye, sigh, and sing all in a breath. (William Gurnall, 17th century author and clergyman)

Gurnall calls this “the rejoicing of hope.” Even when life brings difficulties into our experience, we can be comforted. We can cry while also having a sense of well-being. Sadness and joy can both be present in the difficult events of life. How? By finding our deepest joy from a strong relationship with God.

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

Stop & Think: April 29, 2026

Hope

Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. (Gilda Radner, late American actress and comedian)

Radner also said, “I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned the hard way that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end.” She calls this, “Delicious Ambiguity.” Well, life does have its surprises, and things don’t always work out the way we want, so we need to latch on to the strong anchor that God offers.

We have this hope [in God] as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19).

Stop & Think: April 28, 2026

Hope

If man is not made for God, why is he happy only in God? (Blaise Pascal, 17th century French philosopher)

We live in a society that has become more and more godless. Atheists and agnostics often take center stage these days, attracting many non-religious people or dissatisfied “believers.” When life becomes difficult, however, the stress of disappointment and failure may cause many to realize the futility of life without God.

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God (Psalm 42:5).

Stop & Think: April 27, 2026

Hope

Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. And never hope more than you work. (Rita Mae Brown, author)

Creativity, trust, instincts, hope, work—these are very valuable concepts whose meanings cannot be fully grasped in a sentence or two. Creativity is innate; we all have it to some degree. Trust is only as good as its object, so be cautious about instincts. If hope is only a wishful desire, then you had better work hard to achieve your goals.

This is why we work hard . . . for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people (1 Timothy 4:10).

Stop & Think: April 26, 2026

Hope

Hope, it seems, is not related to our circumstances but rather to our relationships. (Kip Cone, pastor)

The Bible often speaks about hope and faith together. “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is only as good as its object. Don’t put your faith, for example, in a broken chair. Hope, on the other hand, is the expectation of something promised by someone with whom you have a trusting relationship.

. . . joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God (Psalm 146:5).

Stop & Think: April 25, 2026

Hope

The fear of death is engrafted in the common nature of all men, but faith works it out of Christians. (Vavasor Powell, 17th century Welsh Puritan)

The fear of death seems to be universal. When we’re young, we feel almost immortal. Later, we don’t like to talk about death, as if talking might make it happen. But we need to face its reality because the Bible says all of us are destined to die and after that there’s a judgment. The good news is that the Bible also offers hope beyond death to those who put their faith in God.

Anyone who is among the living has hope (Ecclesiastes 9:4).

Stop & Think: April 24, 2026

Hope

Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem to be or actually are, raise your sights and see the possibilities. (Norman Vincent Peale, late clergyman and author)

Sometimes we become discouraged because circumstances seem to be working against us, and our hope for success begins to fade. It’s then that we need a friend or counselor who can help us see beyond the present to consider what can be done to reclaim our lost hope and move toward success. Trust the God of the impossible.

Everything is possible for one who believes (Mark 9:23).

Stop & Think: April 23, 2026

Hope

Belief isn’t just about being sincere. If you really really believe you can fly, you’ll really really get hurt. (Kevin DeYoung, theologian and historian)

Many people seem to think that as long as they have faith, they’ll be okay. But, as DeYoung points out, faith must be placed in something that is real and true. Blind faith will lead nowhere good. The strength of faith is all about where that faith is placed. Be sure to trust in what is eternal and true.

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

Stop & Think: April 22, 2026

Hope

Hope is a renewable option. If you run out of it at the end of the day, you get to start over in the morning. (Barbara Kingsolver, novelist and essayist)

Like so many other intangibles, hope comes from one’s inner makeup. People who are strong and resilient overcomers are able to draw from their inner self. In spite of their own difficult obstacles, they inspire us all to keep going with “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow” (a line from the hymn, Great Is Thy Faithfulness.)

Set yourselves apart to the Lord. Tomorrow he’ll do amazing things among you (Joshua 3:5).

Stop & Think: April 21, 2026

Hope

What a grand world this would be if we all did as well today as we expect to do tomorrow! (Anonymous)

Like the song from Annie, tomorrow always holds hope for better things no matter how bad everything might seem to be today.  Another song reminds us that yesterday has gone and tomorrow may never come. We do have today, so let’s live it to the fullest. Let’s do our best, remembering that “hope springs eternal.”

Tomorrow the Lord will do great wonders among you (Joshua 3:5).