Joy, Hope, Peace

Rom 15:13
“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.”

The Greek word for hope, “elpis”, means to anticipate with pleasure. It is a joyous expectation of what it to come. Every year I count down the days and then the hours until I can head down to Fort Myers Beach for our annual vacation. I look forward to catching up on some reading, relaxing and soaking in some rays. This is the time of the year when the family is together and I get to enjoy my grandson for an extended period of time. It is with this same expectation that I look forward to an eternity with God. No more pain or sorrow; this will be a time of enjoying His pleasure. I will not be aware of time. I will not want for anything. I will just bask in the enjoyment of His presence.

This hope keeps me moving forward. Whatever my circumstances I know that if I endure just a little longer, a time is coming when He will say to me, “well done my good and faithful servant. Enter into My rest.”

I trust and believe in Him that this will be so for two reasons. The first is that His word says so. The second is His word has never failed me before.

In the Middle East it is customary to greet people with the word peace. Regardless of whether you are a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim the greeting is the same. It seems to be an ironic greeting especially in an area so wrought with war and anger. When we think of peace we think of an absence of conflict. When they say it, they understand that they are talking about a future event when there will not only be a ceasing of hostilities but it will be a time of prosperity as well. War brings with it loss, grief and pain. Peace means that when brothers live together in harmony there are benefits that follow that bring prosperity to all.

Because of the current realities we know that there is no hope of peace as long as that hope is reliant on man’s leadership. It is only through and in Him that we have hope. Our current realities sometimes make the brightness of that hope dim in the distance. Thankfully, He has given us His Holy Spirit so that our hope will overflow, not because of words, but because of His power; a power that is demonstrated in our lives daily.

Therefore, Paul’s benediction of joy, peace and hope are not mere words but promises that are guaranteed by the Holy Spirit. I don’t know about you, but I need that reminder for as long as I am in this flesh.

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