Hope - Part 4

It finally happened, and I had faith it would. That beautiful deep red rose bush that I introduced to you a couple of weeks ago broke into glorious bloom yesterday!

The tiny little buds have been sitting there for days and I started to get impatient. I knew I couldn't force them open or they would be ruined. I knew that nothing I could put on them or in the soil would hurry the process along.

My patient hope was put to the test waiting for these spectacular blossoms. They bring joy to my life each spring and I spend the winter months waiting for the warm weather to encourage them to open.

This is exactly like our hope given through Jesus Christ. My faith and my hope are intertwined - I have faith that God will fulfill His promises and I have hope in His faithfulness.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

There is faith in the re-blooming of roses every spring, and there is hope in their beauty because we have seen them bloom in the past. I have faith that sunny days and light rains will bring my blooms because the same thing happened a year ago.

I have seen God work in my life and I have felt His presence in the past. Faith is believing that He will continue to supply my needs and throw in some blessings just for His joy. Hope is watching Him move the pieces of our lives around to our greater good and having the faith that He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I have hope in the promises of eternal life, a mansion in Heaven and joy unspeakable. My faith makes these hopes a reality through God's Word, and His Word alone.

Where have you placed your hope today?

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