The Gift of Hope
The Gift of Hope
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.
Romans 5:2-4 (ESV)
Working our way through the Old Testament has given me a much-needed perspective shift on God’s timing versus my timing. I’ve discovered the two are rarely the same. When my circumstances are bad, I pray for God to fix it – the sooner, the better. Sometimes I forget just how long God took to answer promises in the Old Testament. Sometimes He answered in years, sometimes in decades, and sometimes, generations.
Yet, when I realize my own circumstances won’t be changed any time soon (or maybe not at all, at least not without a miracle), hope feels lost. It’s so personal. So devastating. As though God, the one who loves me most, could somehow be okay with this new normal. How can this be?
God, I pray that even in the darkest of nights, You remind us You are good and You are loving. Even when our circumstances would suggest otherwise, I pray that You will keep the flame of hope lit inside of us. Let our hope rise. Let it grow. Let us shine so brightly in our weakness, that others have no doubt in Your glory and power. Let them know You through our suffering.
I encourage you, if you find yourself living here, to ask God to show you hope. I can assure you, it’s there. Hope is one gift that God has given only to humans. It one of the gifts that sets us apart from every other living thing He created. Ask God to remind you of your hope in Him. Hope that God’s plan is good, even if you inspect it from every angle and it appears otherwise. Hope that God will be glorified. Even in your pain; especially in your pain. Hope that you can find beauty in the ashes. Hope that you can find strength to get up and rise one more day.
Here is a beautiful secret: God has placed this hope inside of you and me. We just need Him to remind us.
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