“Rejoice in our confident hope.”
What is “our confident hope”?
Jesus and His return to Earth giving us our ultimate redemption.
Paul was telling people who lived in fear of their lives to rejoice in that hope. That doesn’t make sense to us now, but our understanding of the word translated as “hope” is different than what those believers in Rome understood.
See, for them, this “confident hope” had zero uncertainty. Zero. None. They were as certain of Christ’s return as they were of what they could physically see, taste, and touch. It was as real as if it had already happened. Confident hope.
Today, our “hope” is often contingent on other people and things that are transitory.
So, how do we get that confident hope? Believe. Simple enough.
God is not transitory. He never changes. What He said at creation is valid and true today. That is where we place our faith and trust. When He said Jesus would return and our redemption would be made complete, it’s already a done deal. Confident hope.
Paul also said to be patient in trouble. The Roman believers knew trouble. Just when they thought they could catch their breath and get on with living, something else attacked, stealing their livelihoods, their possessions, and for some, their lives. Yet Paul told them to be patient within that.
Same for us. Trouble is a part of life. We must know where we stand, and persevere through whatever trial and trouble we are in without succumbing to the evil that wants to steal, kill, and destroy.
Finally, keep on praying. This is more than making sure you say a prayer every day. This is the persevering prayer, the one that you keep taking to God, never giving up on–like the prayers of the father of the prodigal son.
Paul’s message is really simple:
Never give up on God.
Never stop believing that He is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do.
Never stop praying for His intervention in situations.
Never quit.
Never back down.
Never give in.
Even when it’s hard to keep going.
Believer, we will face troubles, trials, struggles, and losses, but we can know with zero uncertainty that God is with us, holding us in His righteous right hand, helping us, teaching us, loving us. In that truth, we can hold our heads up and walk in the purpose for which we were created, continually praying for His will in every situation.
Let’s get started today. Ready?
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
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