By Mark Maher
“Return to the stronghold, you PRISONERS OF HOPE. Even today I declare. That I will restore double to you.” (Zechariah 9:12) Do you see “double” in your future, all those “prisoners of hope.” I want to be a prisoner of hope. Captured by hope, held tight by hope, saturated with hope, contained by hope, overflowing with hope, full of hope, always hopeful and abounding in hope.
Follow His promises and diminish all the outside voices. God promises abundant hope throughout the whole Bible. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13)
The “doubling” is the outcome of your abundant hope, it’s a promise to remain faithful, to not quit in the time of sorrow, to hang on, to trust God is working it out, that He has good plans for your future, that He will bless you beyond measure, and for me it’s been in the area of relationships and ministry.
Would you define yourself as a “Prisoner of Hope?” Does hope have you bound? Or is it the opposite where “hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Proverbs 13:12) and yet in the next verse it says “but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.” We are called to “mustard seed faith” to have a little faith, and you can “move mountains.” (Matthew 17:20) This faith and hope is “like living water” (John 4:14) that sustains and nourishes our hearts to do His will and to live out His calling on our lives.
Life may temporarily cut us back, but “at least there is hope even for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail. At the scent of water it will bud and sprout again like a new seedling.” (Job 14:7-9) In other words, hope, even in tough seasons will flourish again, it can’t be held, it can’t be bound, it has to burst out. Hope sings out in darkness. Fortified faith must flourish.
The phoenix will rise, “for a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again” (Proverbs 24:16) a Christ follower is determined to get back up, to move forward, because Christ calls us to “live life to the full” (John 10:10) and in all actuality, it is not even about us anyways, because Christ calls us to go “strengthen our brothers” (Luke 22:32) and to go “feed His sheep.” (John 21:17)
When I have one area of my life that’s broken, I try to think that it’s just one dimension of my life. I try not to put a 100% focus on what I’ve lost and miss out on all the great things that I do have. And if there is an area that is broken, Christ will begin to do what He does, and healing will occur and wounds will become scars. The broken areas of my life have been the place of ministry. I wouldn’t choose to go through it, but I will allow God to use it.
“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.” (Isaiah 61:7)
You’re going have to learn how to stand on the promises of God. You’ll have to get firm in your faith. “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13) because the devil’s coming for your potential, “wanting to kill, steal, and destroy,” (John 10:10) wanting to diminish your calling, make you feel like you’re not worthy, but the “devil is a liar.” (John 8:44)
Dare to be hopeful. Dream big. Why not you? We’re always going to be full of hope because we’re children of God. We trust his promises. What are you hoping for? What are your non-negotiables?
Are you a prisoner of fear, anxiety, or worry or are you a prisoner of hope? “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Choose to be free of fear and worry, don’t let it hold you, release it, it’s not your calling, it’s not your place of residency, you may visit for a second, but you have to choose to leave, to break out of bondage and instead choose to be bound by hope and faith. Christ came for you. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)
At the end of our rope, we figure out the power of Christ. Hope is released by the power of the Holy Spirit. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4)
If my health fails, if I lose a job, if I lose a spouse, if I lose a child, if it all falls apart, I still won’t lose my faith, my faith is eternal, as we are prisoners of hope, as this life is temporary. Despite everything falling apart, I can still bring people to Christ. Paul’s end of life declaration is on my wife’s tombstone. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have KEPT THE FAITH.” (2 Timothy 4:7)
So despite what happens around us, we abound in hope, doubling and doubling and doubling because our faith won’t stop, through the grace of God, we are “prisoners of hope.” Our hope has a name, Jesus Christ, a firm foundation, an anchor for our souls. Hebrews 6:19 says, “We have THIS HOPE as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.
I will be speaking at the men’s conference at Colonial Woods 2/8/25 on “Speak Life – Hope Sings Out”
