Today’s Reading: Romans 5, Psalm 33 & 42

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. – Romans 5:1-2 (NIV)

Do we truly understand the meaning of the word hope? Consider the meaning of the word hope as compared to the word wish. They do not mean the same thing, yet we often find ourselves using the two words interchangeably.

If I say that I wish something would happen, I am expressing a desire for something that is unlikely to happen or maybe even an impossibility. For example, I wish someone would give the ministry I work for a million dollars, I wish for peace on earth, and I wish that no one would ever have to experience a cancer diagnosis again. All of those things would be nice, but the likelihood of those wishes coming true is slim.

But to hope is to believe in a possibility. Hope includes an expectation that a desired outcome will become a reality some day. There is an element of confidence that something can be achieved — faith that God will do what He said He would do. Hope dares to believe that nothing is impossible for God; therefore, all of HIs promises will come true.

We wait in hope for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
even as we put our hope in you. – Psalm 33:20-22

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God. – Psalm 42:11

The psalmist is calling us to put our hope in God — not to place our hope in the things of this world but to focus our expectations on the God whose love is unfailing. But perhaps you are low on hope right now and need to ask God for the gift of hope this Christmas. My friend, hope is not something we have to conjure up on our own; hope comes from God. As His Spirit dwells within us, hope is unleashed. It is not something we have to find or muster up on our own; it is something we become. All we have to do is ask the God of immeasurably more to fill us with the presence of HIs Spirit so that we can experience His hope like we have never experienced it before.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge. – Psalm 62:5-8

Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:28-31

Lord, thank you for the difference hope has made in this world and thank you for the impact of hope in our hearts. We ask for our hope to be strengthened during this season of celebrating the birth of your Son. Open our minds and increase our understanding of what it means to wait in expectation of all that is ahead. May our faith be strengthened and our hope grow in confidence as we place our trust in the One who never breaks His promises. Fill us with your Spirit so that we become the hope this world needs more of. You are our Rock and our Salvation, and we place our trust in you again this morning. Amen.

But each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me,
and through the night I sing his songs,
praying to God who gives me life. – Psalm 42:8