May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in your faith, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, your whole life and outlook may be radiant with hope” (Rom, 15:13, Phillips).
This was Paul’s prayer for the Romans, a group of Christians he had not yet met, but he knew they were a mixed bag—Jews and non-Jews—and were tempted to look down on one another. It was always the prayer of my dear spiritual mother for me. She knew my nature—not a hopeful one. Faith raises the Christian’s sights from the conflicts and discouragements that are our routine experience in a broken world to Him who holds out the very real hope of triumph. It is not a forlorn hope. It is assured, for by His Cross and passion Christ has overcome the world. This confidence is enough reason for joy and peace. It is enough, if I dwell on it by faith, and by the Spirit’s power, to make even my whole life and outlook radiant with hope.
**Excerpt originally published in Guided by God’s Promises p. 92