Hope Against Hope

By Dean Collins

Over the years, I have led strategy in various organizations. I have learned that just because you think you have the right strategy doesn’t mean you won’t face setbacks, resistance, or seemingly impossible situations. Many times, I have worked with a team to develop a strategy and model the outcomes we might expect. Since no one can see the future, we often built a best-case scenario, a worst-case scenario, and a likely scenario. Maybe you have done the same.

More than once, I have been in a situation where things seemed to be going well, only to find myself or the organization I was serving facing what seemed impossible. Of course, we also face impossible situations in our personal lives. An unexpected diagnosis, a sudden breach in a relationship, or an unexpected loss of income coupled with mounting expenses we cannot manage can leave us wondering what to do next. If you haven’t been there yet, I have good news and bad news.

The bad news is that everyone faces difficult situations at some point. Because we live in a broken world and none of us possesses the wisdom and knowledge of God, we will encounter circumstances we cannot control or resolve on our own. But the good news is that we do not have to—and should not try to—handle these things alone. God is our source of hope. He is our anchor in the storm!

In Romans 4:18–25, Paul describes how Abraham faced the impossible. God had promised Abraham that he would have a son and that through this son he would become the father of many nations. Time continued to pass, and when Abraham was nearly 100 years old, he still had no heir. According to this passage, Abraham considered his own body and recognized that, from a human perspective, it was as good as dead. There was no reasonable expectation that he and Sarah would have a child.

But consider verse 18: “In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations.”

Abraham’s recognition of his circumstances was not an indication of weak faith. In fact, this passage teaches us that his faith grew stronger as he recognized his own limitations and learned to rely on the promises of God.

Paul writes:

“But he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”

As we face impossible situations, we can learn a few things from this passage.

First, it is okay to acknowledge that what we are facing is more than we can handle on our own. There will be times when we simply cannot make it through without God.

Second, we can remember and lean into the truth of Scripture: nothing is impossible for God, and He will be with us through our hardships. God will never abandon us.

Finally, when we face hardships, we must remember that no matter what challenges we encounter, God has secured our ultimate victory through the resurrection of Jesus. When our lives on earth come to an end, we can have the full assurance that our next breath will bring us face-to-face with Jesus.

Father, help us remember that there is nothing we will face in this life that You will not face with us. Increase our faith so that it may be said of us that, in hope, we believed against hope, fully convinced that You will bring us to victory through Jesus. In His name we pray, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
Romans 4:18-25 ESV

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