Romans 4:17-18 (NKJV)

“…in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed…”

Hope does not make ashamed when hope is connected to faith. Faith is the strong anchor on which godly hope is based, and when faith and hope mix together, there is nothing that will be impossible to them. For Abraham, he believed God because he knew that with God, there is no difference between life and death; to God, things that exist and things that do not exist are the same to Him because He is the source of all existence, and He defines reality.

Abraham enjoyed the wonderful pilgrimage of faith because he journeyed with the God of hope. Even when it seemed contrary to hope, his faith still believed and hoped because his faith was not connected to hope, but it was connected to God. It’s an exciting journey when we are called to journey with God into the unknown. Though frightening at times, we need to believe that the God of hope is the God of creation, and nothing is beyond His reach or power.

“Lord, I quake many times because my mind wonders how things will be resolved, but I am learning today to still trust in You, even when the odds seem stacked against me. I believe even contrary to hope. Amen.”