Hope is not wishful thinking. It is confidence in a God who keeps His promises.
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”Romans 15:13 (KJV)
What does “Hope” mean in Romans 15:13?
The Greek word is elpis, which means confident expectation, not a hopeful guess. Paul calls God the God of hope, the One who is the source of it.
Going deeper
Advent begins with hope because the first people to wait for Christ had little else. Israel had heard God's promises for centuries and was still waiting. Hope in the Bible is never blind. It rests on what God has already done and on His character, which does not change. That is why Paul can write about hope in the same sentence as joy and peace, as if they belong together.
Notice where the hope comes from. Paul does not tell us to produce more of it. He prays that God will fill us, and that we will overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Hope in this season is received before it is practiced. As you begin these weeks of waiting, you do not have to manufacture optimism. You can ask the God of hope to fill you, and you can expect Him to answer. Ask Him plainly, and keep asking.
Reflect
What would change in your week if you trusted that God is filling you with hope?
Pray
God of hope, fill me with joy and peace as I trust in You. Let hope overflow in my life through the power of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name, amen.
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