"Abound in Hope."

“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 13:15 ESV)

Paul penned these words, a testament to the transformative power of hope in the Lord. It's a hope that the Holy Spirit instills in us, a beacon that shines even in the darkest of times. Often, we find ourselves losing hope when faced with circumstances beyond our control. But it's in these moments that our faith is tested, and we're reminded of the unwavering hope we have in the Lord. I was once asked, “Why are you a Christian?” I pondered this question deeply before responding.

In answering this question, many things ran through my mind: my salvation, the change God had made in me, my faith, but why? When I answered, I think my inquisitor was dumbfounded. I am a Christian because I was given the ability to recognize that there is a God, a real living God. All the other things—the change of heart, the faith from grace, my salvation—all came from God's gift to reveal the truth to me. It gave me hope.

Paul also wrote, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,”(5:3-4). This hope is not just a distant concept, but a reality that brings us joy and peace in our believing. It's a peace that surpasses all understanding, a joy that fills our hearts even in the midst of trials. From the hope in joy and peace to the hope at the end of suffering, God is there, instilling that hope. When we read Romans, we see that Paul speaks to every aspect of our lives because God is involved in every aspect of our lives. He is not a wooden idol, but a living God, in a living relationship with His children.

Let us look at hope through suffering from a Christian perspective, which reveals the eventuality of the loss found in the perspective of the non-believer. No Christian wants to die; we all would like to live a whole life, but we see death as a win for us. Why, because we have hope in the resurrection, our resurrection. We have this hope because we know that if Christ raised Himself from the dead, he will certainly raise us, just as he did Lazarus (John 11:38-44). We also heard Christ's own words, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:18). The power of Christ over death gives us hope.

In one's sickness, one calls for help. For the non-believer, one's family, friends, and doctors are there for them. When we as Christians face suffering, we have all those and the Lord as well. They have hope in the doctor’s ability to heal their body. Should the doctor fail, where does their hope lie? Is there hope at all? We have hope that our souls have been healed, made righteous before God are we, and that no matter what happens to our bodies, we will live eternally.

We ask for prayer, and we encourage our fellow believers, the prayer warriors, to pray as if there is no tomorrow. Their intercession and fervent prayers are a powerful source of hope. But when Christ intercedes and our prayers are answered, we are flooded with relief, rejoicing, and our hope, however waning, is restored. I have witnessed those whom the Lord has reached and who have accepted Him as their Savior. I have witnessed and prayed with the dying who had such great hope and were ready to see their Savior. I have seen those who were looking at death with no hope at all, and no certainty about their future. I am glad I find my hope in the Lord.

“Oh death, where is thy sting, oh grave, where is thy victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55 KJV). I, for one, can tell you, from the foot of the cross, death has no grip on the faithful. Are you faithful? Do you find hope in the Lord? Do you believe in the risen Son of God? If your answer is no, I pray you seek Him now, before the sting and grip take hold. Hope springs eternal just over the rise when you see your Redeemer beckoning you. [1]

Grace and Peace.

[1] Johnny Cash, 1Corinthians 15:55, American VI, Ain’t No Grave, 2010.