May the God of Hope
Fill you with all joy and peace …
So that you may overflow with Hope.
Romans 15:13
When I find something that truly helps someone who has overcome horrific physical and emotional pain, I pay attention. My friend Christine gave me the book The Allure of Hope for my 40th birthday. This book helped her tremendously after she was burned in a grease fire. (You can read about her story by clicking here.)
In the book The Allure of Hope, Jan Meyers Proett clearly shows how hope is not a passive concept, but an active, life-changing reality. This book touched my heart by giving words to how it feels when I am “jolted by life’s suffering.” Seeing hope as a radical way of responding to life, rather than a mere desire for something good to happen, helps me to coexist with pain. When you live with pain on a daily basis, it is hard to have hope, but it is possible. This book invites you to do the courageous — and glorious work — of hoping.
Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts. Romans 5:5
Wow! This sounds like an inspiring book!
I think to truly hope is courageous. If you are “hoping” it usually means you are looking for something better. This does mean taking a risk because when you hope you might be disappointed.
“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5
Hope does not disappoint!
I so respect these words coming from you. Thank you for exuding joy under the weight of pain. Did you hear what Cindy said yesterday about hope from Is. 40……hope/waiting on the Lord with the assurance that He will renew us–replace my weakness for His strength. God, who never tires, gives strength to the weary who hope in Him.