Hope Is a Strategy
- Richard Selke
- Jul 22
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 12
July 23, 2025
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“Hope is not a strategy.”
I’ve heard that phrase countless times. Maybe you have too – on the battlefield, in the boardroom, in sports huddles. And in those settings, the idea may have some merit. After all, we’re taught that strategy requires clear objectives, measurable steps and disciplined execution – not wishful thinking.
But in a world where Jesus Christ is Lord, hope is not just a sentiment. Hope is essential!
In this beautiful, awe-inspiring, and at times heartbreaking world that God has made, faith, trust and hope in Jesus Christ are not optional – they are our lifeline, our compass, our deepest strategy for living our lives.
I believe in goals. I believe in thoughtful planning and decisive action. And I know that optimism alone doesn’t guarantee success. Sometimes, even our best-laid plans fall apart.
That’s why we must anchor our plans in God. In every endeavor, at every stage, we are invited to entrust the process to the Lord: dreaming, envisioning, planning and implementing. When we root our strategy in faith, hope and trust in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we open our lives to God’s purposes – and to outcomes greater than anything we can imagine.
The Bible says, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” Jeremiah 29:11, NIV. God’s plan is always best. That’s why we are called to submit all of our plans to Him in prayer.
Yes, we do the hard work. We use the best strategies we can muster along with all of our limited wisdom and effort. But we don’t go it alone. We walk with Jesus, we surrender outcomes to Him, and we trust that whether we soar or stumble, His will is perfect and His grace is enough.
The Bible says, “Even youths grow tired and weary, and the young stumble and fall; 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 40:30-31
When we include the Lord in our plans and things go well, we rejoice and give Him the glory. And when things don’t go as we hoped, we can still praise Him – trusting that even in disappointment, He is working all things together for our good. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.”
Without God, even our greatest success is shallow. Without God, our failures can feel crushing. But with Him, our lives take on eternal meaning. He carries us through every outcome.
The Christmas carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Phillips Brooks contains this quiet but profound verse: “Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” In Jesus, our greatest hopes are fulfilled and our deepest fears are calmed.
Hope in Christ doesn’t deny hardship. It looks reality squarely in the eye – and still believes that the worst things are never the last things. God always has the final word.
“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
So, hope is a strategy. But not just any hope – hope in the risen Lord Jesus Christ, who holds our future and walks with us in the present.
REMEMBER & BELIEVE
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
In the meantime, hope in Him!
QUESTION
Where in your life right now do you need to stop relying on your own strength – and start hoping in Jesus?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You are our hope and our salvation. When we plan, help us to seek Your wisdom. When we strive, remind us to trust in Your strength. When we stumble, lift us up with Your mercy. Let every dream, every effort, and every outcome be offered to You in faith, trust and hope. And no matter what comes, may we always remember that You are with us, You are for us and Your plans are good.
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil and the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24, ESV
God bless you!
Richard
Christ Worshipper | Disciple Maker | Hope Giver
Welcome to In the Meantime. I'm glad you're here! We are living in the time between Christ's ascension into heaven and His promised return to earth. In the Meantime is a collection of stories about God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and His presence, love, mercy and grace in my life. In the Meantime, Jesus is Lord! Hallelujah!
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