Hope, trust, and spiritual strength

How much hope do you have today?

It seems that almost ever time I've opened my bible over the past week, one word has jumped off the page:  HOPE.  "Be joyful in hope, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12) has journeyed with me all week.

And this morning: "May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).

Hope.  An interesting word in a week when I've heard from one friend facing a deadly form of cancer, have another worried about a new job, and am myself uncertain about "what's next."  A challenging word in the midst of the gloom and despair of the news, the world we live in, and it's seemingly hopeless direction.

But there it is.  HOPE.

God is a God of Hope.  It's in His very identity.  And He calls us, His followers, not to live in anxiety or despair (no matter what is going on around us), but He calls us to live in hope.

How?  This morning, something dawned on me from this verse in Romans 15:  Hope is linked to spiritual power, and both are unlocked by trusting God.  Trusting that He holds us and loves us, no matter what.  Trusting that He does guide, if only we listen.  Trusting that, in the end (the very end), all will be well.  

Trust in the Lord... and the result will be spiritual power, overflowing with hope.

So - gut check!  Are you and I spiritually strong today, trusting God, filled with hope?  Or is that spiritual power draining away in worry?  

May you and I be filled with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, so that we may overflow with hope in His power.