Hope is the cornerstone of our faith and we are called to hold on to it, to find joy in it, even during hard times…
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)
Hope is important to humans. It’s the thing that gets us out of bed in the morning. It’s what pushes us through difficult times. It is what helps us confront situations that feel unwinnable.
Because we have hope, we have courage. Courage to fight, to forgive, to forge forward. We often think of hope in terms of our Christianity, but it really is the basis of our humanity. And God was the one who called us to it.
Hope is found 180 times in the NIV version of the Bible. It appears so much because it’s a vital part of us. Hoping in God, hoping in everlasting life, and hoping in each other can be the wind beneath our wings, lifting us up on even the most difficult days.
Be joyful in hope
We aren’t just called to hope. We are called to be joyful in it. What does that mean?
It means that we should find joy not just in hopes that are realized, but in the act of hoping. Knowing that we have a God who listens to our prayers, who cares for us in hardship, and that He is with us always is a reason for joy.
Whether our hopes are realized in this world or in the next is not a reason to be joyful or morose. We should hang our hope on God rather than results. And in doing so, we can feel joy in our Lord and joy in the hope that He has given us.
Let hope be the thing that carries you through hard times. Even if you don’t feel very joyful, remember that God is with you and has great plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11). Things might be painful now, but they won’t last. You can find joy in that hope. Because God never lets us down.
Have a blessed Monday!
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