1. Understand the relationship between hope and faith
2. To know how to live with hope
3. To learn mental health connection to hope

Romans 15:13 -  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

 Romans 8:24-25 - For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Do You Mean Me?

It is interesting to see how God often chooses a person who by appearance or apparent ability is not a good

fit for a role or an assignment.  When the Israelites were being oppressed by the Midianites, God had

a special person in mind to wage war against them.  The Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord, and as a result, ”the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years” (Judges 6:1).  But when the Israelites cried unto the Lord, God was ready to attend to their cry.  God chose Gideon, whose response to the call was, “Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? Behold my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” (Judges 6:15).

Israel was greatly impoverished due to the destructive approach of the Midianites in destroying their land, and their sustenance.  “Neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass” was spared (Judges 6:4).  However, when the angel of the Lord appeared unto Gideon, he said unto him, “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour” (Judges 6:12).  And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us” and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites” (Judges 6:13).

But the Lord’s response to him was: “Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites…” (Judges 6:14).

Though God promised to be with Gideon in destroying the Midianites,  Gideon wanted signs that God was really the One who was talking with him.  And God honored the requests of his servant repeatedly to give him the confidence that He was with him.  However, when all the people were gathered with Gideon for the intent of fighting against the Midianites, God wanted to be sure that everyone knew who was about to give the victory.  He wanted it to be an impossibility for Israel to stake any claim of saving themselves.  Of the 32,000 people who had appeared on the mount of Gilead, only 300 were chosen to face the Midianites in the valley.

“And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto [Gideon], Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thine hand.

But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host:

And thou shalt hear what they say; and afterward shall thine hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men that were in the host.

And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.

And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along.

And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.

And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the Lord hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.

And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand, with empty pitchers, and lamps within the pitchers.

And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise: and, behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do.

When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.

So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch; and they had but newly set the watch: and they blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.

And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.

And they stood every man in his place round about the camp; and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.

And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man's sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host.” Judges 7:22

While in the hands of the Midianites, it was very difficult for the Israelites to maintain hope.  The Israelited did not respond favorably to God’s charge:  “I am the LORD  your God: fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell” (Judges 6:10).  Nonetheless, God chose an ordinary man and gave him a big responsibility that would result in the honor of His name.   God was saying, “ Yes, Gideon!  You are the man to deliver my people from oppression.”

1. How would you describe Gideon’s response to God’s call to help the Israelites?
2. What hope did Gideon have for the future of Israel?  Cite your evidence.
3. In what way do you think God’s address to Gideon as a mighty man of valor helped him?
4. Is it possible  for a person to possess talents that he or she may be unaware of?  Explain your answer.
5. How can a person develop talents that he or she does not have?
6. It is important to use every talent to the glory of God.  Why is this important to God?
7. God speaks of something in the future as though it has already happened.  What statement did God make to Gideon before he went to war against the Midianites that shows this characteristic of Him?
8. Name two things in the story that inspired Gideon’s hope.
9. Like the Israelites were oppressed by the Midianites, there will be oppression of God’s people in the last days.  Is there anything in this story that gives you hope?

It may seem complex to feel hopeful  in frightening and uncertain times.  The many things happening worldwide are often difficult for children to process.  Life may seem hopeless for children who have experienced trauma.  A National 4‑H Council survey found that 65 percent of the 1,500 teens surveyed (ages 13–19) expressed that uncertainty about the future made them less hopeful, anxious, or depressed.  But as negative situations arise in the world, it becomes essential to hold on to hope.

The good news is that children can learn to develop hope regardless of their negative past.  The individuals who have experienced childhood trauma and have risen to have happy, successful lives say that having hope and faith was essential to their success.  Those who were able to find hope for the future had the strength and empowerment to succeed in the present.

What is hope?

Hope is an expectation, a feeling, desire, or belief for something to happen.  Thayer’s Greek Lexicon Bible commentary defines hope as “that in which one confides or to which he flees for refuge.”  It is a belief that the future will be better than the present.  The Bible sees hope as forward-looking faith.  This hope is a confident belief in the word of God that the future promised is assured.  And this hope that is of a certainty gives joy, peace, and patience in the present.

The benefits of being hopeful

Hope plays a vital role in mental health recovery.  Hopeful thinkers about the future provide children with the tools for handling stress, change, and adversity.  Hope is the catalyst for change and the enabler of positive factors involved in recovery.  Having a hopeful mindset builds the strength necessary for healing to begin.

Fostering and restoring hope begins with believing the Word of God which creates a firm foundation for children, and possesses the power to bring forth triumph through any adversity.

The sooner children learn how to utilize the Bible to strengthen their “hope muscle,” the sooner they will benefit.  Studies show that living with the hope that the Bible teaches helps build resilience.  Resilience is the ability to get through tough times and recover more quickly from emotional trauma.  A large body of research on hope not only demonstrates its power to support mental health and well-being, but also shows that hopeful people are more likely to attain their goals, do better academically, choose healthier lifestyle habits, cope with and recover better from illnesses, experience higher life satisfaction, have a stronger sense of meaning and purpose, and do better at work.  Time and time again, hope is proved to be a strong predictor of satisfaction, leading many researchers to suggest that hope is a symptom of happiness.  On a less favorable note, some studies even indicate that hopeful children tolerate pain better than their less hopeful peers.

The purpose of hope

In this life, no one is spared from trials or life struggles.  To struggle is a part of life; scripture doesn’t ignore that truth.  Everyone struggles.  The scripture tells us not to be surprised or ashamed when we face trials and struggles.  Here are a few examples of what the Bible says on this subject.

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy… Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf”(I Peter 4:12-13, 16).   This is Peter’s voice encouraging patient hope.  Paul, too, had a word that inspires hope when he said, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).  In fact, in the book of Romans, he shares a powerful scripture indicating that struggles are a reason to be happy because we know they produce hope. “We  glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us”(Romans 5:3-5).  That love that God demonstrates to us comes through His Son Jesus who, in His humanity, “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

Struggles are temporary. No problem lasts forever.  Hope, as well as faith and love, helps children to endure the temporary struggles.  “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you” (I Peter 5:10).  Jesus gives a wonderful promise that “He will wipe every tear from their [the saved] eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).  For now, hope has a way of getting us through whatever we are facing.

1. In your own words, what is hope?
2. Why is hope important?
3. Can you share a story about someone in the Bible that experienced struggles?
4. What is the difference between hope and wish?
5. Why are people who live with hope happier than those without hope?
6. Out of all the Bible texts mentioned in the reading, what’s your favorite on the topic of hope?
7. What struggles in your life do you hope to overcome with God’s help?

• Commander-in-Chief:  the head of state or officer in supreme command of a country’s armed forces.
• Valor:  courage

Activity 1

Assemble in small groups and read the entire chapters of Judges 6, 7 and 8 to get all the details of the story

of Gideon.

BE CREATIVE!!!!

Write a resume for God as the Commander-in-Chief of Israel.  This is typically the head of state or

officer in supreme command of a country’s armed forces.

The key elements of a resume are:

•   Personal Information - Name, Permanent Address, Telephone Number
•   Education
•   Work and Related Experience
•   Awards and Honors
•   Activities/Hobbies
•   Skills

Materials needed:  Bible, paper, pen or laptop/ipad, resume samples

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for the hope we have in You.  Lord, You have provided us with many examples of individuals in the Bible who went through many trials, yet they persevered.  Help us to recall all these ways we, too, can live with hope.  May You heal our minds from all negative thoughts and experiences.  In Jesus' name, we pray.  Amen.