May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13 ESV)
Hope and Hope
I am enjoying my new glasses. For the past few years, I have been using two different pairs of glasses. I wear one pair most of the day. And I switch to another pair for reading.
But I can use my new glasses for reading as well as for regular viewing. And that feels pretty good. I look forward to more reading with clear vision. I look forward to not carrying two glasses around. I look forward to less leaving a pair at someone’s house, forgotten.
That simple hope is peaceful, uplifting, and encouraging.
But the hope that God provides is even better. He is greater than my glasses. He is more helpful than my glasses. He is more eternal than my glasses. He is more loving than my glasses.
During the storms of life, hope helps. During the emptiness of loneliness, hope helps. During the insecurity of economic turmoil, hope helps. During the chaos of untrustworthy news, hope helps. During the pains of illness, hope helps. During the valleys of spiritual drought, hope helps. During the effects of old age, hope helps. During the fear of worldview conflict, hope helps. During the troubles of parenting, hope helps. During the gripping temptation of habitual sin, hope helps.
And God will continue to give us hope.
Take the hope God grants us.