Abounding in Hope
The good news of Jesus Christ is for all people and nations. This truth is something that Paul continuously reiterated in his letter to the Roman Christians. Paul wanted to make sure they knew that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ has been given access to God through Jesus Christ.
And so, as Paul neared the end of his letter, he encourages the Romans with this prayer: “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)
What a wonderful promise! God is doing the work of filling us with joy and peace, and as that happens, by His Holy Spirit, we will abound more and more in hope.
Hope for what? Hope in what?
In Romans 5:1-5, Paul describes how those who believe in Jesus are now at peace with God…
“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.” (ESV; emphasis added)
Because of our faith in God, we hope in God’s glory, and we hope in God’s love.
So right now, consider how God’s love might fill your heart with hope. In what ways can you hope in God during this Advent season?
Tag: God Keeps Promises
Waiting on God: Advent Devotional
Wait On The Lord
When the world around you seems wild, or the heart inside you feels weary, you can still count on God.
The psalmist said it like this:
“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.”
Psalms 130:5 NIVThis is one of fifteen psalms known as the Pilgrim Songs, or the Songs of Ascent (comprising Psalms 120-134)—sung by Jewish travelers making the trek to Jerusalem for annual festivals.
If you read the rest of the chapter, you’ll notice a heaviness, a tenderness, a tone of repentance. The psalmist cries out “from the depths”—wanting to be heard, begging for mercy, longing for the redemption of His people, all the while hoping in and waiting on the Lord.
The NLT translation says, “I am counting on the Lord…”
If you’ve ever wondered who—other than you—has had to hope in, wait on, and trust in the Lord, it’s everyone. It’s all of us. Every person in biblical history, from Noah to Moses, Rahab to Ruth, Peter to Paul… down to us, living in this modern day.
Those who lived before Jesus Christ were waiting on the Messiah to come and rescue a fallen world. Those who live after Jesus, like us, are waiting on Him to come back and redeem everything that’s been lost—once and for all.
The season of Advent reminds us that regardless of who you are, where you’re from, or what you’ve done, you can cry out and wait on God.
He is trustworthy, He is faithful, and He always makes good on His promises.
As you wait upon the Lord during this Advent season, know that He wants you to come close—so that He can be your strength so that He can give you comfort, and so that He can provide everything you need.
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