What is Hope?

What is Hope?

Romans 15:13

Romans 15:13 (NLT): I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

What is hope? As Christians, this might be a familiar term but it can often be mistaken for wishful thinking. In Romans, Paul reminds us that hope is much more concrete than wishful thinking. The word translated hope here means “A solid confidence based on absolute certainty.” And we are called to overflow with hope from the Holy Spirit. It seems easier said than done, but consider what Paul says first: “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him.”

God is the source of our hope. God filling us with joy and peace is what leads us to hope, and we receive this hope through our confident trust in God. Though our circumstances might feel hopeless, God can and will fill us with His joy and peace if we will put our complete trust in Him. Then, we can be sure that hope will follow, even during the most trying circumstances.

Hebrews 6:19 (NLT) says: This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls . . . Hope is the anchor of our souls during the worst of storms. Hope comes from putting our confident trust in God and holding onto His promises because we know that God works in all things for the good of those who love him (Rom 8:28 NIV). If you’re feeling hopeless, remember with a confident trust, that God has not abandoned you. He loves you. He did not randomly place you on this earth and then leave you to your own devices. God is at work in all things, for your ultimate good. He has promised it, and he will make good on that promise. You can confidently trust God today.

Allow God to remind you of what a truly loving and confidently trustworthy God He is. And watch for him to be at work in your life accordingly. Ask for the supernatural joy and peace that only God can fill you with, to comfort and guide you as you navigate this season of life. Keep an open heart towards Him and watch for how He reveals Himself and His power to you in your time of need.

Here are some Questions for you:
  • How has God given you hope in the past?
  • In what ways is He trying to give you hope now?
  • Have you found Bible texts that give you the hope you need? 
  • If not, how could you find these Bible texts?

Now, consider slowly re-reading this scripture and devotion, asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you personally and specifically. Use your Alone With God Journal or make notes in a different journal. Go back and take a minute to talk to God about each of these questions. Mull them over. Don’t be in a hurry. Meet God as you work through this devotion and the questions.

If you would like a list of verses on God’s hope, go to: wordbymail.snappages.site/hope-scriptures

Here’s a prayer you can use to begin your prayer. Heavenly Father, please give me real, true, confident hope – a hope that only you can give me. Please fill my heart with peace and joy that surpasses all understanding during my most difficult circumstances so that my testimony might bless others and bring glory to your name as the one and only all-powerful God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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