Parenting by Design - February 1

The Source of Our Hope

Rom. 5:2b-4: And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope (NIV).

As we encounter the challenges of day to day life, we often place our hope in the possibility of circumstances improving or people changing. In the midst of trials, we may think, "I would be happy if my spouse would just change", "If only I could make more money", or "I will have peace when my kids grow up and stop rebelling." The problem with this line of thinking is that our contentment becomes conditional and dependent on things that are out of our control. We become too focused on experiencing comfort on earth and miss the greater purpose God has for our lives! 

Through blessings or trials, abundance or poverty, the source of our hope never changes—the anticipation of the glory of God that will be revealed in heaven. In the meantime, we can choose to see our struggles on earth for what they are—tools to make us more Christ-like and push us towards a greater dependence on our Heavenly Father.

Place your hope in the only place it can truly be found… God.