“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)
For Reflection:
This is one of my favorite verses. It’s often spoken as a benediction, a sending out into the world, concluding church services. My favorite part of church. A truth spoken over the congregation which brings to me a reminder to stay grounded in him. But it’s more than that. It’s a verse that causes me to pause and reflect on the meaning of the words and what’s really being portrayed. I wonder what Paul’s intent was as he spoke this blessing. The word hope sticks out to me especially. As a word, it has always felt more conceptual than tangible, and rightly so, because the reality is that hope is the belief that what is desired will come to pass. Hope can refer to an object or person which inspires this feeling of expectation and can also be a source of comfort and encouragement. In short, hope is what keeps us pressing onward in life.
As humans, hope is a standard part of our lives, keeping us moving forward day after day. Hope is often the reason we pursue the next job opportunity or introduce ourselves to a new friend. We live life hoping for something bigger, better, and more fulfilling. Thinking that the next great achievement will make us feel like we’ve finally arrived. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” What is this hope we are longing for?
I reflect back on Paul’s words in the benediction, allowing them to wash over me. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace”… Confidence in knowing that our God is a sure foundation who will never leave us. Assurance that there will be true and lasting joy and peace found in his presence. A hope that once we meet and come to know him, this “achievement” once attained will not fall flat like that last promotion or state championship. Hoping in God and what he has for us both here on Earth and in eternity can truly be a source of comfort and encouragement as we learn to trust in him.
Let us pray:
Dear Jesus, thank you for your love and for providing us with something that we can hope in. I ask that I approach each day with the confidence to truly know that you are our source of hope. That nothing else can replace it or come close to compare. Help me to trust in you so that I may truly know and have assurance that you are God. I love you. Amen.
What is something you are hoping for? How might putting your hope in God possibly affect this hope?