2022_08_22 Insight Post- Kim Feld

Hope is a powerful word that is used throughout scripture. If you look it up in the dictionary, you will find it defined as wanting something to happen or be true. But the archaic definition of hope is trust or reliance (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). I think this is the deeper meaning that is often meant. So, as I read Romans 15, the question that came to mind was, “Where is my trust or reliance?”

Romans 15 tells us that God is the source of hope. Let’s look at verse 13 in the New Living Translation:

¹³ I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

If I’m candid, I have to say that my trust and reliance often is in myself. Some of us come from backgrounds where being self-reliant was a survival strategy, and once you develop it, it’s hard to let it go. So when I’m stressed or overwhelmed, my first thought is often that it all depends on me to make it happen. For some, money is their source of trust. They believe money is the answer; the more they accumulate, the safer they will be. For others, it could be their position or title. Although I’m working on changing this way of thinking, stopping to pray sometimes happens later than it should. What incredible power I miss when I do that!

God is the source of hope. He alone is ultimately worthy of our trust and reliance. But can I trust Him with my family or with my health? Can I trust Him with big decisions that I need to make that impact my future? Most Christians would likely answer yes to those questions, but is that how we operate?

The more I read and study scripture, the more I am convinced that what I ultimately believe about God impacts every aspect of my life. For example, do I really believe that God is all-powerful and bigger than any obstacle I will ever face in my life? Do I really believe He is trustworthy even when the outcome is not what I want? These are big questions that we all need to wrestle with.

Where is your hope today? Where do you place your ultimate trust?

Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach

Reference: Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Hope. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved August 19, 2022, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hope