The God of Hope

ROMANS 15:13

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.

When our attention is fixated on ourselves, we can easily become discouraged. The roller coaster of our performance is a miserable ride. On the other hand, when our focus shifts to God and all that He is for us in Christ, our souls begin to soar. So let us fix our eyes on the Lord, the founder, and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2).

He is the God of hope. No matter what is happening in your life, the God of hope wants to fill you with all joy and peace through believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope. Believer, you died with Christ, you have been raised with Christ, your life is now hidden with Christ in God, and when Christ, who is your life, appears, you also will appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:3–4). What a hope you have in Jesus!

He is the God of all comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we are comforted by God.” God knows your pain and cares deeply for you in your struggles. As your trials come, so will your comfort. The Lord is mercifully inclined to comfort and console you; He will not waste your pain but will redeem it all for your good and His glory.

He is the God of endurance and encouragement. “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may, with one voice, glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 15:5–6) God is almighty, and in His infinite power, He can fill you with strength and courage to continue to run the race and not give up until you see Him face-to-face in glory.

He is the God of peace. Romans 16:20 assures us, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” You may be surrounded by turmoil, grief, and heartache, and the enemy of your soul is actively seeking to destroy your faith. But your God is the God of peace, and the enemy will be soundly defeated. The battle wages on, but your final victory is already yours!

He is the God of all grace. We read in 1 Peter 5:10, “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” Because God is the God of all grace, you can be assured that your sufferings will be followed by glory. All His grace is in store for you. You may feel broken, weak, and faltering, but you will soon be restored, confirmed, strengthened, and established.

Take heart, dear believer. This is your tenderly merciful God!

Reflect

What encourages you the most about God right now—that He is the God of hope, the God of comfort, the God of endurance and encouragement, the God of peace, or the God of all grace? Why?

Let’s Pray

Lord, I praise You that You are the God of all hope, the God of all comfort, the God of all endurance, the God of all encouragement, the God of all peace, and the God of all grace. I need Your hope, Your comfort, Your strength, Your peace, and Your grace. Please fill me with Your Spirit, and let my life reflect that You are my God. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Enjoyed this 5-day devotional? Continue soaking in God's mercy with the 100-day devotional, Overflowing Mercies, by Craig Allen Cooper