May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” vs. 13
Romans 15:7-13
One of the signs of God’s presence in our lives is the appearance of hope in the most unlikely times. Hope confounds us with its elusiveness. It comes and goes with maddening irregularity and resists our most determined manipulation. Paul tells us that hope has a connection with believing, or perhaps a better word is trusting. As we trust that God is, the Spirit of God stirs within and hope is reactivated in our hearts. And the best news is that hope doesn’t come alone. It is always accompanied by joy and peace, two more gifts of God that make life absolutely sparkle. Sometimes our daily diet of news is decidedly unhopeful, almost enough to bring despair. The world is being overrun by authoritarian forces that seem interested only in power and control. They show no interest in the common good of humanity and refuse to cooperate in dealing with our changing environment. The resulting explosion of refugees on the move is producing one humanitarian crisis after another. And then suddenly, in the midst of our hand-wringing and lament, we feel God’s presence and are filled with inexplicable hope. It’s baffling and wonderful at the same time, and we find ourselves able to even laugh and sing! Praise God!
Thought for the Day: What is my hope built on?
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