Celebrating Hope: Looking Back Stepping Up预览

In Uncertain Times

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. - Romans 5:5

Amid the chaos in our world, what are you hoping for? New vaccines? Economic stimulus? Racial reconciliation? Justice? Having hope in uncertain times isn’t easy. Most of us want answers to help us make sense of the challenges going on around us, to gain confidence that everything will be okay. 

The apostle Paul recounts in Scripture painful, uncertain times. In the book of Romans, this great influencer of church and society followed Jesus amid extreme challenges. As he taught, Paul encouraged struggling fellow believers to “rejoice.” Why rejoice amid struggles? Paul testified, “We can rejoice . . . for we know that they help us” (Romans 5:3 NLT). For believers in Jesus, Paul explains that trying times build our endurance, develop strength in our character, and lead to confident hope in our salvation (vv. 3–4). We rejoice because of our faith in God when tested builds up our hope. We move from dependency on ourselves to reliance on Christ. 

God never promised we would live without difficult situations. Instead, even in chaos, God transforms us as we look to Jesus, trusting in Him, following Him, and becoming more like Him. In uncertain times, hope in Jesus “will not lead to disappointment,” Paul wrote (v. 5 NLT). God will fill us with His love and hope and with His Spirit. Our Almighty God uses difficult times. He leads us to Jesus and conforms us to be greater than any challenge.—Anna Ruffin 

What uncertainty and challenge can you bring to God to gain greater hope?

God, help us embrace uncertainties as an opportunity to embrace Jesus, know Him better, and gain strength to endure the pressures of life. I’m thankful we can put our confidence in You.