Anchors of Hope: Embracing Jesus in Every Season

Devotional

Day 1: Hope Is Not Wishful Thinking—Hope Is Jesus Himself

Biblical hope is not uncertain or wishful thinking, but a confident expectation rooted in the person of Jesus Christ, who has come, died, risen, and promised to return. Unlike the world’s fragile hopes that can disappoint, the hope found in Jesus is sure and steadfast, an anchor for our souls that holds firm even in the darkest times. This hope is not an abstract idea or a fleeting feeling, but a living reality grounded in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, who is our living hope and the one who brings us into the presence of God. [06:19]

1 Timothy 1:1 (ESV):
"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,"

Reflection: In what area of your life have you been relying on wishful thinking or worldly optimism, and how can you intentionally shift your hope today to rest in the person of Jesus?

Day 2: Hope for Our Past—God Redeems What Was Meant for Harm

No matter what pain, betrayal, or mistakes lie in your past, God is able to enter into those places and work as a divine craftsman, redeeming and transforming what was meant for evil into good. Just as Joseph declared that what others intended for harm, God intended for good, so too can you trust that God is still at work in your story, bringing healing, restoration, and purpose from even the darkest chapters. Your past does not disqualify you from hope; instead, it becomes a canvas for God’s redemptive power, turning brokenness into blessing for you and for others. [15:44]

Genesis 50:20 (ESV):
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."

Reflection: Is there a painful memory or regret from your past that you need to invite God into today, asking Him to begin redeeming it for good?

Day 3: Hope for Our Present—Christ Is With Us in Every Circumstance

Hope is not only for the future or the past; it is for the present moment, because Jesus is with you right now, regardless of whether you find yourself in a palace or a prison. The presence of God is not dictated by your circumstances—He is with you in your joys and your struggles, offering His companionship, strength, and hope. Like Joseph, who experienced God’s presence both in prosperity and adversity, you can be assured that Christ is in you, the hope of glory, empowering you to be a person of hope wherever you are placed. [22:13]

Colossians 1:27 (ESV):
"To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Reflection: Where do you most need to remember and rely on Christ’s presence with you today—in a place of struggle, routine, or blessing?

Day 4: Hope for Our Future—Jesus Is Preparing All Things New

The crowning glory of Christian hope is the promise that Jesus will return to make all things new, ushering in a renewed creation where every wrong is made right and every sorrow is healed. This hope is not vague or uncertain, but anchored in the words and work of Jesus, who is preparing a place for you and will come again to receive you to Himself. Even when the future is unclear, you can trust that what Jesus is preparing is good beyond imagination, and that the “again beginning” will be a time of delight, restoration, and eternal joy in His presence. [26:57]

John 14:3 (ESV):
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

Reflection: What is one area of your life or the world that you long to see made new, and how can you let the hope of Jesus’ return shape your attitude and actions today?

Day 5: Becoming a People of Hope—Sharing Hope With Our Community

Because Christ is in you, you are called to be a person of hope for your family, your town, and your world, offering a different kind of hope than what the world knows. The hope you carry is not just for yourself, but is meant to overflow into the lives of others, bringing encouragement, light, and the presence of Jesus into places of darkness and need. As you open your heart to God’s ongoing work in your past, present, and future, ask Him to make you a vessel of hope, ready to rise up and share the confident expectation of Christ with those around you. [23:29]

Romans 15:13 (ESV):
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."

Reflection: Who in your community or circle of influence needs to experience the hope of Christ through you this week, and what is one practical way you can share that hope with them?

Sermon Summary

Hope is not a fragile wish or a vague optimism, like hoping your football team wins or that your takeaway will be good. True hope is not a game of chance, like Jenga, where everything feels precarious and uncertain. Instead, hope is a person—Jesus Christ—who is our anchor, our certainty, and our living hope. The world often offers hope as wishful thinking, but the hope found in Jesus is a confident expectation rooted in His life, death, resurrection, and promised return. This hope is not abstract; it is concrete, steadfast, and unshakeable because it is grounded in the character and work of Christ.

Hope in Jesus is not just about the future, though it certainly includes the promise of all things being made new. It is also about the past and the present. Jesus, as the Alpha and Omega, is Lord over all time—He was, He is, and He is to come. Because of this, we can have hope for our past, knowing that God is able to redeem, heal, and bring good even from what was meant for evil. Our stories, no matter how broken, can be transformed by the divine workman who weaves redemption into our histories.

In the present, hope means that Christ is with us, regardless of our circumstances. Whether we find ourselves in a palace or a prison, the presence of Jesus is not dictated by our situation. He is with us in our joys and our struggles, and His presence is our hope. This hope is not just for us individually, but is meant to overflow into our communities, making us people of hope for our town and our world.

Looking to the future, hope is the confident assurance that Jesus is preparing a place for us, that He will return, and that there will be a new beginning—the renewal of all things. This is not a vague or distant dream, but a promise from the One who is faithful. Even as we wrestle with the realities of our lives, including pain, loss, and unanswered questions, we hold onto the certainty that Jesus is making all things new.

Key Takeaways

1. Biblical hope is not wishful thinking or optimism based on circumstances, but a confident expectation rooted in the person of Jesus Christ. Unlike the world’s fragile hopes, our hope is anchored in the unchanging reality of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and promised return. This hope is sure and steadfast, not subject to the shifting sands of our feelings or situations. [06:02]
2. Hope in Jesus transforms our relationship with the past. Even the most painful or broken parts of our story can be redeemed by God, who works as a divine craftsman to bring good out of evil. Our past does not define us, but becomes a place where God’s healing and restoration can shine, enabling us to bless others with the hope we have received. [16:05]
3. The presence of Christ in our present circumstances is the foundation of our hope today. Whether we are in seasons of abundance or adversity, Jesus is with us—His presence is not determined by our situation. This means we can experience hope even in the darkest moments, knowing that Christ is alive in us and working through us for His glory. [21:04]
4. Our hope is also future-oriented, anchored in the promise that Jesus will return and make all things new. The “again beginning” is not just a theological idea, but a living reality that shapes how we endure present trials and longings. The certainty of Christ’s return and the renewal of all things gives us strength to persevere and to live with joyful anticipation. [24:40]
5. Hope is meant to overflow from our lives into our communities. As people who carry the hope of Christ, we are called to be agents of hope for our town and our world. This means embodying the presence of Jesus, offering healing, encouragement, and the promise of new beginnings to those around us, and inviting others to experience the living hope we have found. [23:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:29] - Introduction and Family Stories
[01:45] - The Nature of Hope: Worldly vs. Biblical
[03:10] - Hope Isn’t Jenga: Wishful Thinking vs. Certainty
[05:29] - Hope as a Person: Jesus, Our Anchor
[06:19] - Jesus, the Living Hope
[08:20] - Light in the Darkness: Now and Not Yet
[09:35] - Hope and the Story of Joseph
[11:55] - Jesus: Hope for Past, Present, and Future
[14:32] - Hope for Our Past: God’s Redemptive Work
[20:06] - Hope for Our Present: Christ With Us
[23:29] - Hope for Our Town: Being People of Hope
[23:54] - Hope for Our Future: The Renewal of All Things
[25:40] - Wrestling with the “Again Beginning”
[27:20] - Jesus Prepares a Place: Divine Grand Designs
[30:08] - Responding in Worship and Prayer
[32:34] - Prayer for Hope in Past, Present, and Future

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Hebrews 6:19-20 (ESV) — > We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

2. Genesis 50:20 (ESV)
> As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

3. Colossians 1:27 (ESV)
> To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Observation Questions

According to Hebrews 6:19-20, what is described as the “anchor of the soul,” and how is Jesus connected to this anchor?
In Genesis 50:20, what does Joseph say about the evil done to him, and how does he see God’s role in his story?
What phrase does Paul use in Colossians 1:27 to describe the hope that believers have, and where does this hope reside?
The sermon compared worldly hope to “Jenga” and wishful thinking. What are some examples given of this kind of fragile hope? [03:10]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “Hope is not Jenga, but hope is Jesus.” What does it mean for hope to be a person rather than just a feeling or idea? [06:02]
Joseph’s story is used as an example of hope for the past. How does seeing God as a “divine workman” change the way someone might view their own painful history? [16:05]
The phrase “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27) was highlighted. How does the presence of Jesus in the present give hope, even when circumstances are difficult? [21:04]
The sermon talks about the “again beginning” and Jesus making all things new. How does this future hope affect the way someone might handle current struggles or disappointments? [24:40]

Application Questions

The world often offers hope as wishful thinking or optimism based on circumstances. Can you think of a time when you put your hope in something uncertain, and how did that turn out? How is hope in Jesus different? [05:08]
The sermon says that Jesus can redeem and heal even the most broken parts of our past. Is there a part of your story where you need to invite Jesus to bring hope and healing? What would it look like to trust Him with that? [16:05]
Joseph experienced God’s presence both in the palace and in the prison. Are you currently in a “palace” or a “prison” season? How can you look for and rely on Jesus’ presence with you right now? [21:04]
The idea of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” means hope is not just for us, but should overflow to others. Who in your life or community needs hope right now, and what is one practical way you could share the hope of Jesus with them this week? [23:29]
The sermon described hope as “confident expectation” rooted in Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and promised return. How can you remind yourself of this confident hope when you face doubts or discouragement? [06:02]
The “again beginning” is the promise that Jesus will make all things new. What is one area of your life or the world where you long to see renewal? How does this promise shape your prayers or actions? [24:40]
The sermon encouraged us to be “people of hope” for our town and world. What is one step you could take this month to bring hope to someone outside your immediate circle—maybe a neighbor, coworker, or someone in need? [23:29]

Sermon Clips

We today sit as those who have to acknowledge, don't we, that there's a lot of darkness in our world still. There's a lot of darkness. But there is one who came running to this world with mercy in his eyes. And he's overcome that darkness. And he will overcome that darkness. He has overcome the darkness. But yet the darkness is still there because we live in the now and the not yet. And he will overcome that darkness once and for all. And there will come a time that there is no more darkness. [00:08:07] (28 seconds) #VictoryOverDarknessInChrist

But I think God, through his spirit. This last two weeks also has highlighted something to me about hope. And I want to share with you this morning that it's not just about in a future sense, but in a past sense and a present sense, too. [00:13:09] (16 seconds) #JesusWasIsAndIsToCome

If we agree that. That Jesus is hope and it's not Jenga. Jesus is hope. And let's listen to what Jesus says about himself. Jesus says this about himself in Revelation, chapter one. He says, I am the alpha and omega. I am the beginning and the end. I was and I am. And I am to come. So if hope is Jesus, and Jesus was. So let's go over here for Wallace. Jesus was. Hello. So Jesus was. And Jesus. It's funny who you recognize in the front row, isn't it? And Jesus is. And Jesus is. So I don't want to leave you out. And Jesus is to come. Well, then hope is all of these things as well. [00:13:26] (45 seconds) #HopeForPastDivineRedemption

Hope for our past. He still works in it for us. He was. Genesis 50, 20. After all of Joseph's life, his literal ups and downs, literally down in the pit, literally up and into a palace, literally down into a prison, literally up as the Prince of Egypt. All of his ups and downs, his darkness, his hurt, his betrayal. He says these words, but as for you, you meant evil. Against me. But God meant. And the Hebrew word's important here, but God meant chasab. God meant. It means devised as a skilled workman for good order, to bring it about as good and to save many people. Chasab means a skilled workman. It means divine pre planning that overrules proud human calculation. [00:15:16] (56 seconds) #HopeNotCircumstanceButPerson

Hope for our present. He lives with us. He is. It's interesting as we look back a little bit in the life of Joseph as he settles into life in Egypt. In chapter 39 it says this. The Lord was with Joseph and he was a successful man. And the master saw that the Lord was with him. Things were good. But this point in Joseph's story, things were good. The Lord was with Joseph. That phrase is really important in the Hebrew. That phrase is important because a few years later, through no fault of Joseph's, he finds himself not in a palace, but in a prison. And the same phrase is used a few verses later. Yahweh, Sopet Yahweh. The exact same phrase. You see, the Lord is with him in the prison and the Lord is with him in the palace. His situation and his circumstances didn't dictate the presence of the Lord with him. [00:20:14] (56 seconds)

I don't know, but it's going to be good. I do know that I have hope in Jesus and where Jesus is. Everything's good. So I have so much hope for the future. I don't know what it's going to be like, but I know it's going to be good. And Jesus is at the again beginning of all things when I return. When you see there's certainty and surety of Jesus return, there's a lot of stuff out there, isn't there, about Jesus return. I don't do social media, so I don't know. Apparently I don't know. Anyway, I will not go there this morning. There's a lot of stuff about Jesus return when I don't know, but I know he is coming and the Son of man will sit on the throne. He said he would come when he did back then he said he would come back and he will and it will be a new beginning. The eternity that has been planted in your heart this morning will find its home. The eternity that has been planted in your heart this morning will find its home. He is preparing it. And we, you, I and the world, creation itself is longing for it. [00:25:44] (57 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What is the biblical definition of hope?

How does Jesus serve as our hope?

In what ways can hope be present now?