People are often labeled as optimists or pessimists. Many would label me as an optimist. Optimism is rooted in an attitude of expectation that good will result — I will be healed from my illness, I will achieve success in my business or I will win. Optimism, however, can often lead to disappointment.
Hope is different. It never disappoints, since it has nothing to do with circumstances or results, but has everything to do with God. Hope looks squarely in the face of temporal realities that confront me and offers me confident expectation that God is in control and offers purpose for what I am experiencing. The Apostle Paul relied on God's purposes as the basis of his hope.
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
(Romans 5:2-5 NIV)
Will you join this week in standing firmly in hope?
Sharing the journey with you,
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