Are you filled with hope, joy, and peace, or are you filled with despair, sadness, and worry?
Every day I look at my newsfeed, I see our political leaders bickering with each other. Each side is blaming the other side for something or other.
The television news constantly updates the state of the COVID-19 pandemic. How many people have been stricken since yesterday? How many are in hospitals? How many died since I don’t know, maybe five minutes ago?
You can’t get away from the constant updates, and frankly, it is both frustrating and depressing. Well, at least for me it is!
It is frustrating because even the experts don’t seem to know what to do and can’t agree on what we should do to lift ourselves out of this mess.
It’s depressing because I see the burden of pain and anguish the disease, and the situation, has placed on people I care deeply about.
Then, as is often the case during my daily Bible study, a scripture jumped out at me. It made me realize I needed to change how I was thinking. I realized what I fill my mind with affects my outlook on life. And, my outlook on life affects the way I interact with others.
Hope, Joy, and Peace
The apostle Paul wrote to the beleaguered house churches in Rome. The purpose of his letter was to offer both support and encouragement.
In closing one section of his letter, the verse Paul wrote that caught my attention was,
“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).
Let me break this verse down to explain why it impacted me so strongly!
May the God of Hope
God is the author of hope. All true hope is from God, not from the mind of man. Man is the source of despair. However, God can create hope amid despair.
Fill you
The phrase “fill you” implies there are degrees of filling. Those with little faith are filled with less hope, while those with great faith are filled with hope overflowing! Faith in God and His promises bring us the greatest possible filling of spiritual blessings.
With all joy and peace
Joy and peace, two of the fruit of the Spirit that Paul refers to in Galatians 5:22, come from God, not from the mind of man or through man’s power. Joy relates to the anticipation of having our hopes fulfilled. While peace results from an innate assurance that God will fulfill our hopes.
As you trust in Him
This filling of joy and peace come from God when we trust in Him. Fulfilling this promise is contingent on one thing and one thing only; we must have complete trust and faith in God.
So that you may overflow with hope
The result of trusting in God is believers will overflow with this hope that brings joy and peace. Again, the word “overflow” indicates there are degrees of filling. When we trust in God, the filling of hope will overflow in our lives.
By the power of the Holy Spirit
Hope is produced not by our power but by and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Man’s power is limited. I can hope it will be sunny and warm tomorrow but simply hoping won’t make it so. Hope, based on faith in God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, carries all of God’s infinite power. God can make it so!
Leader Challenge
Leaders, there are people in your workplace without the hope of joy and peace that comes from having a relationship with God. During this trying time, we who know the power of God must demonstrate the joy and peace that comes from our faith in God.
Let everyone see the hope, joy, and peace that lives in your life. When someone asks how you can be hopeful, joyful, or at peace during the trials brought on by this pandemic, be ready to share the peace that comes from having a relationship with the Father!
More Articles
I have written several articles on our dependence on God. You can find them by typing “dependence on God” in the search bar. Meanwhile, here are four of my favorites.
- #343: 16 Signs You’re Emotionally Exhausted (Not Just Tired)
- #327: How to Avoid A Tragic Ending
- #317: What Happens When God Calls You?
- #304: Are Setbacks Merely Stepping Stones to God’s Purpose?
Join the Conversation
As always, questions and comments are welcome. What are you doing to maintain hope, joy, and peace in your life and the lives of your loved ones? The lives of your coworkers?
I’d love your help. This blog is read primarily because of people like you who share it with friends. Would you be kind enough to share it by pressing the share button?
Category: Personal Development | Dependence on God
What we fill our minds with definitely affects our outlooks and moods. It’s why I watch very little TV news programs. Too politically driven. Good books, family, conversation with friends (often via Zoom) and my chats with God are all more fulfilling and joyful!
I’m with you John! I’ve been especially vigilant about what goes into my head these days. I heard my wife giving the same advice to a family member over the phone last week. A lot of anxiety goes away when you avoid the news these days!
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