Hope for Today

June 12, 2022

Hope for Today

By Brooke Holt

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1–5)

People everywhere are looking for hope today—hope for the war to end, hope for the virus to fade away, and hope for the economy to recover. We are desperate for hope to heal our conflicts, strengthen our marriages, save our children, and protect our loved ones. Where is this hope to be found?

We all remember the song about looking for love in all the wrong places. I think there could be another song about looking for hope in all the wrong places. When we place our hope in circumstances, expectations, or people, our hope disappears. But God teaches us a different way in Paul’s letter to the Romans. There is hope! We have so much hope, Paul tells Christians, that we can even boast in that hope of the glory of God. That is an awesome thing to consider! However, that hope is not to be found in anything in this world. It is found in Christ alone, and he offers it freely and abundantly, even in the hardest circumstances.

Paul knew this hope well. He lived through a long list of challenges (2 Corinthians 11:16–33), but he persevered in his calling to preach the Gospel. Paul knew that God lived in him through the Holy Spirit, and that Spirit empowered Paul to overcome every challenge. The Spirit gave him the words to preach and set his eyes on eternity, not on the chaos of his circumstances. Paul learned hope through suffering: “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope” (5:4).

Is this how you find hope today? If not, the Lord is inviting you to a new, divine perspective on the trials and tribulations of this world. God uses the trials and tribulations of life to stretch you, strengthen you, and teach you how to depend upon the Holy Spirit. Christ in you is your hope (Colossians 1:27). When you lift your eyes off this world and put your eyes on Jesus, hope is restored. This world is not our eternal home; it is our temporary dwelling place. But while we are here, God pours out his love and hope into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, the one who calmed the winds and waves, has a plan for every storm in this life. God has made the way for eternal victory through his Son, Jesus Christ. You have this hope fully available to you today, no matter what is happening around you.

May the Lord give you eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to receive his hope!

Reflection:

How might the Lord be stretching and strengthening you through trials? How does he want to give you his divine perspective and hope today? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Related Resource:

Follow the ancient way of the Psalms and find the life God has for you. A model for vibrant worship, the Psalms provide practical wisdom to traverse the circuitous path of life with trust and hope. Pilgrim’s Path: A Study of the Psalms traces our spiritual walk with God—from discovery and delight, through doubt and disappointment, into joyful confidence. Whether used for individual or group study, Pilgrim’s Path is for everyone who seeks to know and love God more and find life in him.