In this season of hope, of anticipating Christ’s promised return, are we filled with hope?
Romans 15:13 comes to mind: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (NAU)
What does God tell us through this verse? First and foremost, God is the God of hope. Hope rests in Him. He is the source of hope. God alone is eternal, both in terms of the future and the past. He alone knows both what transpired at the very beginning, and what is yet to happen. Whatever He says can be trusted, as God cannot lie (Titus 1:2).
It is God who fills us with joy and peace. It isn’t just some minimal inadequate amount: it is “all” peace and joy. God is also the one true source of joy and peace. Why does His filling us with joy and peace matter? It is through God’s filling us with joy and peace that we have hope; a hope that comes through the power of the Holy Spirit. True hope is found only in God through Christ.
That makes sense doesn’t it? When we are filled with God’s peace and joy, even in the midst of difficult circumstances, doesn’t that point to the certainty of our hope in God’s fulfilling His promises?
Being filled with God’s joy and peace also helps us to change our general outlook and attitude doesn’t it? When we’re filled with His joy, how likely is it that we’ll give in to despair? Not likely at all.
Nevertheless, it is a choice we make: we can either concentrate on what we have been given in Christ, the joy and peace we have in Him, or the difficulties we may face or what we may feel we lack. An attitude of bitterness can be particularly destructive.
During this Advent season, let us seek to be filled by the God of all hope. Let us abound in His joy and peace. Let us focus on Christ, the certainty of the promises we have in and through Him. Let us rejoice!
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