Week 3: The Gift of Hope
Monday: Hope in God’s Love
Read: Romans 5:1–11
SOAP: Romans 5:3–5
Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Devotion:
This week of Advent we will spend time focused on God’s gift of hope, and what a beautiful gift it is! The hope we have is not dependent on our circumstances, success, what we own, or what we can accomplish. Our hope has nothing to do with the titles we hold, the work we do, how often we volunteer, or how well-behaved our kids are. Our hope is in God—and it’s a hope that never changes or disappoints!
Unlike the world’s version of hope that expects everything to be easy, our hope is strongest when it comes from the development of our character through challenges. When we know that the end result of our suffering is hope and a life that is more like Christ, we can face anything that comes our way with our eyes focused on God and our heads held high.
It is through suffering that endurance is produced, which gives us what we need to press on in our faith as we learn to rest, not stop. As we develop our endurance our character is refined, separating us from those who would give up or give in when times are hard. We embrace the counter-cultural lifestyle of God’s kingdom that says that, when we are weak, God is strong. We invite others into our lives to help us run this race well, and we cheer for and love those the world would consider our competition.
And in the end, after endurance and character, our suffering produces hope. Hope that isn’t about us, but is an overflow of the love that God has poured into our hearts. When our worlds are shaken, this hope stands firm, because God’s love never changes.
Prayer:
God, You are my hope. When life is hard, help me focus on the gifts You have for me as my character is refined to be more like Christ. The hope I have in You is unshakable because Your love for me is unchanging. Amen.