The power of HOPE

What does God say about Hope?

"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.  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

 -Romans 5:1-5

I have a question I want you to really think about... Why does Hope not disappoint us? We've all heard of the word, and I'm sure we have all told someone or have been told to "have hope". But the Romans Bible verse makes a pretty strong statement. "Hope does not put us to shame, hope does not disappoint us, hope maketh not ashamed, hope never makes us ashamed" Whichever translation in the Bible you may read, Hope is sufficient. 

Think of something hard you're going through right now. Think of how the world goes about telling you how to solve this problem, now think how God calls you to have hope in Him. What does that look like? What does that feel like? For me it is a huge challenge. When something is not going as planned, or I am feeling down about a situation, having hope isn't my first thought in recovery. But according to Romans, God puts us through tough situations that lead to suffering, which builds our perseverance, which reflects on our strong character, and gives us more hope that THE PLAN HE HAS FOR US IS BETTER THEN OUR OWN. Its a simple concept, but easily forgotten. "The best is yet to come" is a quote I imagine God whispering to me when i fall. Whether that be a answer that takes a day, month or year to get, or whether that is Eternity. What God has for us is more then we can ever ask for. 

I challenge you to choose hope in God and what He has for you, instead of your own plan next time something doesn't happen the way you imagine it to go. Take a step towards him. Pray more, trust more, and believe in that Hope he says that won't fail us. 

-Abigale McFaul

Smu AIA President

Lover of Jesus

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18