Grace Extension - Hope That Does Not Disappoint

Hope That Does Not Disappoint

Also through Him, we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope does not disappoint because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5: 2-5

Ok, I will admit it. I am a dreamer…an idealistic believe it can happen dreamer. A phrase from a song of the 70’s, “the dreamer who sometimes plays a fool”…well, that would be me. Of course, my friends usually don’t call me “fool.” They’re way too nice for that. Now crazy?…oh yea…lots of times.

I remember when I decided to pursue coaching and teaching as my ministry instead of being a pastor. I was just out of college where I had been a minister of a church for four years. When I told a friend, a fellow minister, that I planned to be a coach, he said, “Billy, you take that philosophy of yours into the world and it will eat you alive.”

That was years ago and I am still alive, but I know what he meant. The world is sometimes like a den of hungry lions and I guess I’ve been chomped on a few times…maybe more than a few. The truth is that when we dream…when we hope, we are wide open to pain and disappointment. Sometimes it seems we dream our hopes alone and the silence of aloneness can be deafening. Satan has tried to convince me on many occasions to re-evaluate my hopes and dreams. Satan’s word is “hopeless” and that I have felt too. We all have.

But, so far my great big dose of stubbornness has come in handy. I have resisted Satan’s temptation to quit dreaming. Sharing hopes with others helps. Let me be honest with you. Right now, as I write this devotional, I feel sorta old and empty…tired and a little painful. But soon I will drive to Brewer High School and this afternoon about 75 young men will enter the field house. These guys dare to share a dream with me. We will go into the weight room and there together, we will hope. Now there will be some pain and disappointments ahead, to be sure. But I will leave Brewer late this afternoon with a renewed belief that the possibility of disappointment is not greater than the joy of hoping…of dreaming. It helps to share a hope with others…I thank God for that.

The early verses of the fifth chapter of Romans contain one of my all-time favorite scriptures. Paul is well aware of the pain and afflictions that comes with hoping, but gives purpose to that pain, saying it eventually leads to a hope that last forever. A hope that does not disappoint…a promise in a world running over with disappointment.

A hope that does not disappoint…wow, now that such a blessing. Our hope in Christ will never fail us. The things we do in His name…the people we love in His love…our thoughts and actions for His glory…those things will last forever. It is that assurance…the promise that we cling to…that keeps us going. It keeps us from giving up. It keeps us from giving in. It sustains us during the pain. It gives us courage when the lions come. It raises us above the expectations of the world. It gives us peace during the hour of trial. It enables us to rise again another day and hope.

Jesus Christ…a hope that does not disappoint. You know what? I think I’ll dream tomorrow!

Thank you, Lord.

IN Christ,
Billy

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