Romans 15:7-13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” vs. 13

Hope is what keeps us going in the face of adversity or difficulties, and hope is perhaps the most precious gift of God. Because we are broken, God plants in us the seed of hope so that we might have the expectation of restoration and healing. The very presence of hope in our lives is a sign of God’s presence, and a reminder that the way things are is not the way they will always be. And as we learn to trust that God-inspired hope we are bound to receive joy and peace, the ultimate gifts of God in this broken world. Those of us who have had hope dashed in the course of our journey know how very precious it is. Without it, expectations are crushed and it’s easy to get lost in depression and malaise. But because hope is God generated and Spirit inspired, it often bubbles to the surface almost in spite of ourselves, and when it again appears, joy and peace are not far behind. It’s fun to be in the company of hopeful saints in our congregations. Their effervescent smiles and genuine caring are contagious and in their presence we often find our faith strengthened and our hope regenerated. And none of this is our doing. It’s all the gift of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thought for the Day: How have I experienced the power of hope?