HopeWhen life is grey, we all need a rainbow to arch through the sky to paint hope in our hearts. We all want to rest in the fact that a beautiful ending has been written for our tale … and that’s what hope is about. Hope takes us to our pot of gold at the end of a bridge of colour – a bridge that carries us through and from sorrow to bluer skies and brighter days. At the end of that bridge, we find Promises fulfilled and faith that is not only satisfied, but rewarded. Yes, faith and hope are kin qualities. As a very wise and life-seasoned gentleman put it: Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb 11:1).
Those words were written by Paul, the veteran apostle. He was the perpetual prisoner whose songs of praise echoed through dark dungeons and rippled through the hearts of the hopeless; ever joyful, ever thankful, ever moved to speak well of the Lord. His unshakeable trust in God caused prison walls to rumble and to release countless captives. This is because his hope was rooted in something real - some unexplained yet spiritually-existant "substance."
Hope shines in divinely-scripted drama. Hope is about grappling with grief, yet still journeying in joy. Hope is about ploughing through perplexity while still pursuing perfection. Hope is about feeling the sting of sorrow yet still tasting the sweet honey of God’s goodness. Hope is about conquering the complex trials of life by wielding the simple sword of God’s Truth – the speaking, nature and principles of God breathed upon every page between Genesis and the Book of Revelation.
Hope is not wishful wondering or uncertain dreaming. Hope is expectant trust anchored in the proven faithfulness of the One who created each one of us. Like a rainbow which ribbons across the sky, God’s boundless kindness promises to give us wings; wings to soar above life’s trials; wings to take us to a place of completion in Him. Hope is about a pot of gold overflowing with the richness of life in Christ. Hope is Kingdom currency minted with faith. Hope rejoices and celebrates the certainty of one immovable truth - the Author of our faith has penned the perfect conclusion to every book - every life adventure.
Those words were written by Paul, the veteran apostle. He was the perpetual prisoner whose songs of praise echoed through dark dungeons and rippled through the hearts of the hopeless; ever joyful, ever thankful, ever moved to speak well of the Lord. His unshakeable trust in God caused prison walls to rumble and to release countless captives. This is because his hope was rooted in something real - some unexplained yet spiritually-existant "substance."
Hope shines in divinely-scripted drama. Hope is about grappling with grief, yet still journeying in joy. Hope is about ploughing through perplexity while still pursuing perfection. Hope is about feeling the sting of sorrow yet still tasting the sweet honey of God’s goodness. Hope is about conquering the complex trials of life by wielding the simple sword of God’s Truth – the speaking, nature and principles of God breathed upon every page between Genesis and the Book of Revelation.
Hope is not wishful wondering or uncertain dreaming. Hope is expectant trust anchored in the proven faithfulness of the One who created each one of us. Like a rainbow which ribbons across the sky, God’s boundless kindness promises to give us wings; wings to soar above life’s trials; wings to take us to a place of completion in Him. Hope is about a pot of gold overflowing with the richness of life in Christ. Hope is Kingdom currency minted with faith. Hope rejoices and celebrates the certainty of one immovable truth - the Author of our faith has penned the perfect conclusion to every book - every life adventure.
