Hope Filled
“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.” Rom. 15:13 (NIV)
Recently, I had a conversation with a young adult. We talked about life and he said something that caught me off guard. He said, “ I think most people aren’t happy.” At first I laughed, thinking it cynical and hopefully, a joke. But as I studied on his words, I realized it was far more insightful than I first recognized.
There seems to be an epidemic of people at the end of their rope. Ambitious people. Spirit filled people. Passionate people. The cream of the crop, really. It saddens me to hear these conversations across age and life situation differences.
Why – in the wealthiest country in the world – are people not finding true happiness? Why are Christians struggling to hold on? Where is the hope, joy, and peace that fills the Bible?
I believe the answer, at least partially, is in the verse above. “The God of Hope” fills us with joy and peace as we trust in Him. As I trust in Him. The lack of trust can block our joy and peace. Absence of trust robs us of the overflow of hope available to us by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We teach our kids to have self-confidence. We praise “self-made” men. We reinforce self-reliance, but it is not Biblical. Or healthy. We can be sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency- but never in our own ability.
Christians need to resist the urge to micromanage their own lives. If we ask God to take care of something, we need to trust that He is taking care of it. We must trust that the answer will be exactly what we need. The answer will be what is best for us. The answer will show up just at the right time.
God instituted the Sabbath to teach His children this principle of trust. It was good and right for them to work six days a week, but one day a week they were to rest and trust in His provision. When the Lord instituted the Sabbath, He did so to the Israelites. These were former slaves who had never been given the luxury of a day off. Now it was not even an option. It was a requirement from God.
The Lord never meant for us to work ourselves to a frazzle trying to usher in our own success. We have to let go a bit. Trust more. Rest more. Believe that He not only hears, but that He is able and wants to help us.
Will you join with me in asking the Lord to increase our trust in Him?
Oh Lord, help me to trust in you rather than in myself. Help me to find joy and peace as I trust in you, rather than stress and despair. Help me to find the overflow of hope that you provide. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Amen, Sherri. Yes, there has been an influx of people not being happy or even downhearted. May I hold fast to His promise for me.