Building Hope

It's cool what you learn when you go back and re-study your own notes.  I had missed something important even though I wrote most of it down - which I'm glad I did, because now I have all these spiritual gems to look over again.

Hope is connected to patience. This came up in my study of Christ-like attributes, which I've been discovering are all connected through Christ.  Here is the connection, found in Paul's letter to the Romans:

"...but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us." (Romans 5:3-5)

Hope is an expectation, or trust, that the Lord will fulfill His promises to us.  When we hope, we can have patience through confusion and pain as we go through hard things. In addition, when we remember to have patience with ourselves and with the Lord, our hope is built up as we rely on Him.  This is all made possible through the presence of His Spirit, which is "shed abroad in our hearts" as we remember and feel His love.

So, my friends, I want you to know something.  I want you to know that no matter how hard things are right now, no matter how long it's seems to take for things to get better, your patience will be rewarded - maybe not with a solution just yet, but with an abundant feeling of God's love for you.  He does love you, and He wants to show you just how much.  Talk with Him, and you will feel that love.

And if you need a listening ear, mine is open.