Our Hope

Our Hope

Romans 15:13

“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)

The Epistle to the Romans was written by the Apostle Paul, to Gentile believers living in the shadow of the pagan Caesar. They were a People who were a lot like you and me. People living in a world that was filled with hostility towards their faith... a people who faced uncertainty, and trials, and difficulties, and yet, they were blessed with the assurance of salvation in Christ.

The words of our lesson today are both a prayer and a promise. Paul refers to God, as “the God of hope.” But we need to understand something about biblical hope. The hope of the bible’s not only something God gives us; God’s hope is rooted in who God is. He is our hope!

Christian hope is not wishful thinking. We hope for a lot of things in this life: We hope to win the lottery; we hope our favorite team wins. We may hope that circumstances will improve, that a difficult situation will work out, or that somehow tomorrow will be better. But all such hope is basically a wish, or a desire. Biblical hope is not just “whistling past a graveyard” - ignoring reality and pretending “every little thing is gonna be alright!”

In fact, most of the time (not all of the time, but MOST of the time) when we say we hope something will happen, we express our hope in a negative context. In other words, we don’t really believe whatever it is we’re “hoping” for will work out or happen. It’s a worldly, defeatist kind of mentality, that’s basically just wishful thinking!

But biblical hope is not like the hope of this world. Biblical hope rests upon the character and promises of God, in Christ. It’s an assurance grounded on the fact that God is faithful, and what He has promised can be trusted.

God promises to fill us with “all joy and peace as [we] trust in him.” I think it’s by no accident that joy and peace are connected: because, for the believer, joy and peace grow from our trust in God. As God’s people, and followers of Christ, we don’t manufacture joy and peace; any more than we manufacture hope. They’re gifts of God’s grace that flow from our trust in Christ.

And that’s especially important when life becomes uncertain. Our circumstances may (and often do) change from day to day, but God’s character never changes. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). We’re the ones who change! Our feelings fluctuate, our emotions run wild... but God’s promises remain steadfast. There’s no doubt that our strength certainly fails, but God’s strength is inexhaustible!

In fact: the promise here is that AS you and I place our faith and trust in God, He fills us with joy and peace, and our lives begin to overflow with assurance. Sometimes the word “overflow” is translated “abound” or “radiate.” God doesn’t just give us a little hope... He fills us to the overflow so that our lives radiate the “hope-filled” assurance of Christ!

We’re all aware that life, at times, can be filled with anxiety, and uncertainty. When we’re waiting for some test results from the doctor, or when we’re having difficulty at work, or when our family life is strained, life can feel anything but joyful and peaceful, and hope can seem elusive.

It’s in those times that we lift our anxious concerns and fears to our Lord, asking the God of Hope to give us wisdom and peace, precisely because He is our Hope! “In Him we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). He cares for us and loves us with an everlasting love. He leads us, as the Psalmist says, “in the path of righteousness.” We can, and must, trust in our sovereign, faithful, and gracious God; even when we cannot see what comes next.

You know... hope for the day or hope for the circumstance - hope measured out in small batches - is not the Hope of God’s Word. If that’s the kind of hope we’re looking for, we know nothing of the hope of God. The hope of God abounds... it overflows from our lives.

As believers... as followers of Christ, and Children of God, we know God’s grace! We’ve experienced it time and again. And God’s grace is sufficient in all things. You and I can face whatever tomorrow may bring - not because we know what will happen - but because we know who holds every tomorrow.

And how do we know this Hope and live this Hope? “By the power of the Holy Spirit” within us.

Overflowing hope’s not a matter of trying harder or even having more faith! Abounding hope is the work of the Holy Spirit within us, strengthening us... reminding us of God’s promises, directing our hearts toward Christ, and enabling us to persevere.

The Reformed understanding of grace comes into play here: God begins the work, God sustains the work, and God brings the work to completion. Even our ability to hope rests upon God’s gracious work within us.

So, when your heart is troubled, don’t begin by looking inward and asking, “what can I do?” Look upward and remember the God of hope.

Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ reigns. Christ will return. And because we belong to Him, our future is secure.

Always remember that our hope is not based upon the size of our faith. Our hope is based upon the faithfulness of the One in whom we place our faith.

“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.”