Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
~Romans 15:13

Hope.  Joy.  Peace.  Isn’t it interesting that these words walk together in the same passage?

Hope:  expectation, trust

Joy:  gladness, calm delight, state of well-being and contentment

Peace:  quietness, rest, tranquility

Each conveys a sense of satisfied well-being.

What is the source of this quietness of spirit?  God.  The God of all hope.  Believing.  Faith in Jesus.  The previous verse tells us this. “And again, Isaiah says: ‘THERE SHALL BE A ROOT OF JESSE; AND HE WHO SHALL RISE TO REIGN OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM THE GENTILES SHALL HOPE.’”  Lastly, the Holy Spirit.  By His power we abound in hope.  Hope in a triune God.  Hope given to us by this same God.

Not just subsisting in hope, by the way–abounding in hope!  When I am gripped by fear. When my sorrow is swallowing me whole. When I am thoroughly overwhelmed by all life throws at me. When I don’t think I can bear it a minute longer.  He gives me hope by His power.  I have hope in His power.  Psalm 43:5 says, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.”  He is my help, my strength. Not a glimmer of hope, but a magnificent sunrise.  Hope for this life and eternity.

He offers us not just hope, but joy–overflowing.  Knowing that a compassionate God cares for me and upholds me by His right hand whatever my circumstances.  A contentment and calm delight in Him and all He is doing (even when I’m hurting), knowing that He is working all things together for my good (Romans 8:28).  An understanding that, come what may, The joy of the Lord is my strength.  Joy in the glorious mountaintop experiences of life and joy in the valleys because there is renewing there, growing to be done.

Peace in believing.  Trusting my unknown future to a God Who has made Himself known to me and by Whom I am known and even called His child.  Laying my head on my pillow each night with peace in my heart because I trust a faithful God. A God of infinite power and knowledge, who knows every situation that concerns me in this life and has a wondrous place prepared for me for all eternity.

I love the message of this song.  What a powerful reminder that life is never so bleak that we cannot hope in our awesome God!  In fact, it is often in our deepest valleys that we meet the Saviour in the sweetest way.

Paul wrote these words of Romans 15:13 as a blessing to the Romans who had placed their faith in Jesus.  My friend, I pray that as you read this, whatever hurdles you face, you, too, would know the blessings of hope, joy and peace as you place your faith in the Saviour.