Against All Hope

Romans 4:17 NLT Abraham believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Against all hope, Abraham believed.

What dreams has God put into your heart and mind that seem impossible? Dreams you have long ago pushed into the recesses of your mind because they seemed too far-fetched to ever be possible. Not dreams of winning the lottery and a life of first-class living with perpetual vacations. But desires for life purpose, destiny, and a calling that brings glory to God, leaving a legacy. Dreams that maybe have been squeezed out of you by the realities of life.

The context of Romans 4:17 is God bringing those dreams out of a 90-year-old barren womb. God brought forth the son promised to Abraham and Sarah. In the reality of human hearts and minds, the situation was utterly hopeless; it was against all hope. How could a 90-year-old woman who had spent her entire life in barrenness produce a child? God spoke these words to Jeremiah: “I am the Lord; is anything too difficult for me?” Jeremiah 32:27

The Abraham story also represents how God, against all hope, restored His relationship with fallen mankind. Every one of us has “sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Hopelessly lost and separated from the Father’s love and purpose. The law had proven that man could never be good enough, obedient enough, or righteous enough to live in relationship with a holy God. But “against all hope,” God demonstrated his great love for us in “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

When Moses stood on the shores of the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army was in hot pursuit, when Elisha encountered the widow whose sons were about to be sold to satisfy a debt, when Jairus’ only daughter was pronounced dead, and when the woman with the issue of blood had exhausted her resources without a cure, Jesus had this answer for his disciples: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). But with God…possibly the three most powerful words in all of scripture: in all things, not some things, but in all things, at all times, all things are possible.

Once again, “against all hope,” God did not leave us to struggle but sent His Holy Spirit to be poured out on all those that trust in Him, to fill us with His indwelling presence. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 assures us, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.” The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to reveal the heart of the Father and fulfill His desire to live in unhindered relationship with us, for us to know Him, and to bring glory to His name. To deliver on the promise, “against all hope,” turning dreams into reality.

God does not call us to logically solve the challenges we face. Abraham and Sarah tried that with results that are still painful today. He called us to believe the unimaginable into existence, not through some name-it-and-claim-it, but through the death of our own efforts and complete surrender to the only one who can. When a relationship appears to be broken beyond repair, when financial needs are bigger than the resources, when a diagnosis has shaken you, when life’s barriers seem too hard to overcome and you are “against all hope,” call and trust in “the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.”

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NIV.

Jeremiah 32:26-27 NIV Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

Luke 1:37 NIV For no word from God will ever fail.

Job 42:1-2 NLT Then Job replied to the Lord: I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.

Luke 18:26-27 NLT Those who heard this said, Then who in the world can be saved? Jesus replied, What is impossible for people is possible with God.

Jeremiah 32:17 NLT O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!

Genesis 18:14 NLT Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.

Psalms 62:11 NLT God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you.

Psalms 3:8 NASB Salvation belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be upon Your people!

Isaiah 59:1 NASB Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear.

Numbers 11:23 NASB The Lord said to Moses, Is the Lord’s power limited? Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not.

Isaiah 65:24 NASB It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

Jeremiah 27:5 NASB I have made the earth, the men and the beasts which are on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will give it to the one who is pleasing in My sight.

Revelation 4:11 NIV You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.

2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Ephesians 3:20 NLT Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.

Jude 1:24-25 NIV To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!

Daniel 3:17 NIV If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.

Hebrews 1:3 NIV The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.