Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”- Romans 5:5
(Hope: to anticipate, usually with pleasure, to expect good)
Oftentimes, in the very place we experience tribulation (oppression, distress, affliction and anguish), God gives us a door, a new opportunity. To walk through this door, to take advantage of this new opportunity, offers us a supernatural relief that transcends our painful circumstances. This door, this opportunity, is hope!
So many times in the middle of a prison cell, Paul would be filled with hope and encouraging others to experience the same, no matter their circumstances. He said that the reason he could do this was that he counted all loss for the sake of KNOWING CHRIST! All he cared about was intimacy with Christ. Can we say the same? I know I don’t always feel this way…thus my lack of hope and joy.
When we find ourselves joyless and hopeless, we can open the door of hope by believing that God is good in the face of what we don’t like. We can trust that He promises to work all for our good (though our circumstances are painful and probably unwanted).
As we do this, we are coming to KNOW Christ in a new place, in new circumstances. We are allowing Him to reveal who He is to us in a new way. The Holy Spirit gives us an opportunity to partake of the divine nature (experience intimacy with Christ) and we begin to experience the joy and peace that come directly from the heart of the One who sits on the throne of Heaven. He is filled with compassion which overflows towards you with great tenderness. He has the perfect perspective that sees the end from the beginning and He desires to fill you with that joy and peace even now!
