Hope in Christ Does not Disappoint

And this hope will not lead to disappointment. (Romans 5:5, NLT)

“The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there…”

Hope is truly an audacious undertaking. It’s a bold place to live and many have lost hope if they ever had it. Disappointments, challenges, unmet expectations, unfulfilled human promises, wounds, and traumas have stripped away and beat down the hope of many. This world does not give us anything to anchor our hope on. The only hope it can offer us is temporary at best, fragile, dependent upon the generosity, kindness, and character of others, the “ideal” coming to fruition.

From the beginning of time—since Adam and Eve—God has been our true source of hope. When we put our hope in him, we are not putting our hope in something, but Someone. Christmas reminds us we can continue to place our hope in the right place. On the One who became flesh and has power to deliver and save us. Hope placed in God’s son, Jesus is not fragile, contingent upon the best or ideal taking place, not even dependent upon our best but rests solely on the Person of Christ, who is the promise of God fulfilled, finding its “yes” in Christ Jesus.

No wonder Paul wrote, “and this hope will not lead us to disappointment,” because the hope we have put in the One who has all power and loves us with an everlasting, eternal, unconditional love can never disappoint us. As Paul wrote in Romans 8 even the worst of events and circumstances work out for our good because we love and put our trust in Jesus. Hope in Christ is not a misguided, blind, baseless hope, but a pure, sound, secure, unfailing hope. Let’s Pray,

When we place our hope in the things of this world, we will be disappointed, Lord. This world cannot give hope because it is hopeless but in Christ, we have hope. May we learn how to put our hope in him. Amen

Reflective Questions for Soul-Tending:

Has the world or circumstances stripped you of hope? Can you put your hope in the One who is able to care for you and promises to make, even the worst things work out for your good?

How will you apply or incorporate today’s message into your plan of soul-care?