Sermon - Lauren McCoy - The Thrill of Hope [Isaiah 40:25-31]

First Baptist Shreveport

December 1, 2024 - Lauren McCoy

Isaiah 40 - a word of comfort from God while the Israelites are in exile

“but 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 be faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

Sometimes we're impatient for the grace of God but God teaches us to wait and to hope.

The Israelites are asking if God has forgotten them, but God answers with questions -

“Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”

Isaiah 40:26

Our world tells us everything has to be logical and organized and clean- we make lists to try to order our lives and control things. But when we control our world and order our lives, that's the problem. We forget about God in the process. And then we ask - why, God, have you forgotten me?

God then reminds us that He has no limits. He has created the universe AND he knows us. He encourages us to think outside our limits and depend fully on him.

We question if God can help us. But God answers again with reminders that He does not grow tired. He can indeed help us.

We run on our own and we forget about the Creator who gives us strength in the first place. Our hope is in the Lord. We can let go and trust that God has us.

Hope is more than wishful thinking- it is a renewal of strength. It is inwardly groaning and expectantly waiting for Jesus. It is not passivity. Christian hope is an expectant leap forward. It doesn't ignore fear or doubt- it confronts them.

"A Christian who is waiting and watching is full of hope." Eugene Peterson

Let's ask ourselves: Have I forgotten God? Can I let God rescue me?

There is a thrill in our hope- it is freedom in God, the church walking together, trusting in Jesus as a unified body.

We have hope in the thunder of the voice of God in the wilderness. Our hope is in the Lord.