Choosing to Hope

We do get into dark places, don't we? (This one is at the Goddard Mansion in Maine.) We get into places that are dark because of the sin of others against us, because of our own sin, or just because the pre-Revelation world can be a very dark place.

But today, a friend of mine mentioned a remedy that is available to all of us: We need to choose to hope. That touched me in a very deep place, as simple as it sounds. God is our hope. "Christ in us, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). "On Him we have set our hope, that He will deliver us again" (2 Corinthians 1:10). "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery" (Exodus 20:2).

And Pastor Scotty Smith, in his prayer yesterday (http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/) reminds us, because we need to be reminded, "there never has been, nor will there ever be, any nervous sweat, furrowed brows or anxious pacing in heaven. There will never be one moment of consternation or vexation in the corridors of paradise; no need for a plan B to emerge from the 'big boardroom'."

So what do we do with this knowledge? We choose to hope. Hope that God can handle our lives and our circumstances, hope that we are never out of His care, hope that all things will work together for our good and His glory, rejoice in a hope that never disappoints, because "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5:5).

And we know the God who promises all these things. He will surely do it. He is the God who brought us out of the land of slavery.

So choose, this day, to hope. And "may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope" (Romans 15:13).