Daily Devotional: Hope

The Bible often tells us to do things we would likely not do without being told. Being patient in tribulation goes against our normal inclinations. Being constant in prayer requires constant effort. But what about rejoicing in hope? Why are we also told to do this? I believe even this is something that we are not likely to naturally do. We may have hope, but do we rejoice in it?

To rejoice literally means to “feel or show great joy or delight.” There are lots of things that cause me to feel great joy or delight: my favorite team winning a game, seeing an old friend after a long absence, watching my daughter swim across the pool for the first time without a floatie. In one way or another, I rejoice at many such occasions, but do I rejoice in hope?

Our source of hope is actually one of the greatest causes for rejoicing. As believers in Jesus we may intellectually understand that our faith means we are assured of eternity with Him, but if we take the time to truly ponder this, we can be filled with such hope that cannot help but overflow in rejoicing. Our future is in the hands of God and because of this we have hope! Really, our hope is the reason that we are able to be patient in tribulation and constant in prayer. As the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:19, “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” Because our hope isn’t just in this life, we are of all people most justified to rejoice! The more we focus on our great hope, the more our perspective will be adjusted off of the here and now and onto the eternal. THAT is where our hope is, and our hope will not disappoint!

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.