“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
- Hope: desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment; someone or something on which hopes are centered
- Joy: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires
- Peace: a state of tranquility or quiet; freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions
Definitions from Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
I came across this verse from Romans the other day and it grabbed my attention. The Apostle Paul had just written to encourage Christians to accept each other and to remind them that Christ’s mercy unites Jews and Gentiles for the glory of God.
Notice how the Apostle links hope, joy, and peace with faith. “As you trust in him” seems to be the prerequisite to receiving joy and peace. Yet, it’s the trusting that is so hard for me! My head knows that God wants what’s best for me and He’s promised to be with me, but my heart wanders to selfish desires and begins to doubt God’s promises. Doubt doesn’t bring joy and peace. Trusting in our Lord brings “all joy and peace.”
The God of hope fills us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him so that we can overflow with hope! We see hopelessness all around us and at times we feel it, too. But that’s why Christ came. We, who trust in Him, can have hope in spite of all the hopelessness around us. Yes, and joy and peace are included. Seeking joy and peace on my own doesn’t bring lasting joy or peace. It is the Spirit’s power that works in me, fills me with lasting joy and peace and causes me to overflow with hope!
The more I stay connected to the word of God the more my heart agrees with my head. Submitting my will to the Holy Spirit’s leading and trusting God with the present and the future days of my life fills my heart with joy and peace. There is calm in the eye of the storm (of hopelessness).
In the eye of the storm (yeah, yeah)
In the middle of the war
You guard my soul
You remain in control (yes you do, Lord)
You alone are the anchor
When my sails are torn
Your love surrounds me (Your love surrounds me)
In the eye of the storm (in the eye of the storm)
Songwriters: Bryan Fowler / Ryan Stevenson
Eye of the Storm lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group
“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him” (Psalm 62:5).