Your identity in Christ starts with hope. Hope defines us as Christians. Our hope in Christ distinguishes us from all the other people on the earth.

See all the videos in “30 Days to Radically Shift Your Identity in Christ” in the playlist in the description to this video. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT6YqbJJJzQjsugD0bEYGgbvMDAMSFJZ_

Ephesians 2:12-13
In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

Our hope is in Jesus and the finished work of the cross. Our hope is in God.

Hebrews 6:19
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure...
Hope is God’s anchor for our thoughts, emotions and desires which tend to drift
We should not be tossed around by the struggles, problems and pain of life. We are anchored to eternity through our hope in Jesus. We should be living lives full of hope, confidence in God and boldness.

But life does get to us sometimes. Circumstances beat us up. God knew that would happen so he gave us 3 proven ways to refresh our hope:

Romans 12:12 NIV
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

1. JOYFUL.
Romans 15:13
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.
Rejoice in who God is, how much He loves you, and His plans and promises for you. Your joy in God will become greater than your circumstances. And by the power of the Holy Spirit your hope will overflow, giving hope to others as they watch you have hope in a difficult time.

2. PATIENT ENDURANCE.
Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

Psalm 27:14
Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!
Patient endurance isn’t passively waiting as a victim. It is resting in God’s presence, knowing God is with you and He will give you courage and strength you as you wait with your eyes on Him.

3. PRAYER.

Psalm 34:17-18
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
When we are discouraged, our hope fading, even gone, we pray. Prayer draws us near to God and releases His power in our lives. He stands with us in the storms of life and saves us.

Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
So rejoice in God, patiently endure your trials as Holy Spirit empowers you, and faithfully pray inviting God into your struggles. And God will give you peace as wells up within you until it overflows.