Hope

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we  have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through him we have also obtained access by faithinto this grace in which we stand, and werejoicein 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. -Romans 5:1-5, ESV

Hope is not a wish. It is a future certainty in what lies ahead because of the faithfulness of God. This hope keeps us moving forward in the face of doubt and despair because we know that the sufferings we face ultimately mature us in our walk with Christ and lead us on to an even greater hope. Paul reminds us that it is a hope that does not disappoint (or “put us to shame”), because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. He leads and assures us and fans the embers of our hope until it burns brightly again. So our hope, our faith, is strengthened and though things may seem difficult, the Spirit is near. We are not forgotten. Instead, we have the full might and backing of our Father who loves us and supports us as we live for Him in the face of whatever challenges come our way. 

Have hope Christian. Your Father loves you!