Abounding in Hope

HOPE AGAIN!
Terry R. Baughman

“And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!” (Romans 4:18 NLT).

Regardless of the setbacks you may have endured. There is still hope! The ancient Roman philosopher Cicero said, “Where there is life there is hope.” Perhaps he drew from the biblical text, “But all who are among the living have hope” (Ecclesiastes 9:4 God’s Word Translation). 

In the diary of Anne Frank the saying is turned around where she wrote, “Where there's hope, there's life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again.” Those who choose to hope can truly live. Resist the temptation to surrender to hopelessness, and bravely cling to hope. With hope one can truly live. 

God has promised us hope through the gift of His Holy Spirit. Paul wrote, “This hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love” (Romans 5:5 NLT). Paul often weaves into his writing this hope that may be achieved through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Near the end of the Epistle to the Romans, Paul makes his wish for them also a prayer, “Now may God, the fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope!” (Romans 15:13 TPT). 

This is also God’s desire for each of us, that we may, “abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NKJ).


Theme passage:
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NKJ).