(From our church-wide devotion book at Pinedale Christian Church, "You 2.0”)

When I contemplate HOPE, I reflect on the time that it became extremely real to me. Twelve and a half years ago, I lost my 19-year-old son in a car accident. The grief and misery I felt could have been overwhelming had it not been for HOPE.

I spoke at his service and quoted Romans 8:28 – “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” NASB
That’s a promise from God. In the Bible, HOPE is the confident expectation of what God has promised, and its strength is in His faithfulness. I continuously reminded myself of this. Finding HOPE in the faithfulness of God.

A few verses before this, in Romans 8:25, we read, “But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance, we wait eagerly for it.” NASB

HOPE is not only wanting something, it’s EXPECTING God to deliver on His promises.
Ultimately, all of God’s promises are answered in Jesus Christ. Jesus is “the better HOPE” mentioned in our key verse, “through which we draw near to God.”

In Romans 8:28, where it says God causes all things to work together for good... according to His purpose, we know that His purpose is for all to acknowledge Jesus Christ and come into relationship with Himself.

When I quoted Romans 8:28 at my son’s service, I was keenly aware of the room full of his contemporaries: young adults his age, 19-20, who may not have been taking life seriously yet.
I had to hope that what I considered my loss could be used somehow to work towards God’s purpose.

Borrowing from Romans 5:1, I have been justified by faith. I have peacewith God through My Lord Jesus Christ. Through this faith, I have received grace, and I exult in the HOPE of the glory of God!
Now I had to experience tribulation for this to be made evident to me. Romans 5:3-4 says, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance*; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope.”

*Look again at Romans 8:25... “with perseverance we wait eagerly for it,” i.e., what we do not see.
What are we waiting for that we do not see? Our Lord Jesus! Our HOPE is found in Jesus!
To continue with Romans 5:5, “and HOPE does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

I will see Jesus. My hope will be answered. And BECAUSE of Jesus, my hope to see my son again will also be answered!

In the meantime, I will continue to try to live in a way that demonstrates that all things work together for good to those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.

Having to go through such tribulation is not something I would have asked for. But I am blessed by the result. From Romans 5, tribulation brings about the HOPE that does not disappoint. Through HOPE, we draw near to God.

Through my grieving process, I studied the book of Job. He was familiar with tribulations! He taught me to hold fast to my faith. He taught me that it’s okay to ask God questions. He also gave me one of my favorite Bible verses. Job 42:5, “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees Thee.”

Tribulation.... Hope.... Drawing near to God

In light of this self-discovery of HOPE, I would offer that having experienced it at a personal level, I have no problem trusting the faithfulness of God in all situations. Having the promise of seeing Jesus can put all things into perspective once we realize that He is the ultimate HOPE.

Working through the grief of losing my son helped me gain a little bit more of God’s perspective on things. No matter what we struggle within this world, in this life, because of God’s promises, because He is faithful, we will realize our HOPE. We will see Jesus.

We are bombarded on every side by the suffering and evil in this world. It’s always in the news, and sometimes it hits home.

But there is HOPE! And HOPE does not disappoint.