Expectant!

Expectant!

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  And patience, experience; and experience, hope. And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:3‭-‬5 KJV

Salvation seals my hope; it is the start point of the journey that ends in eternal life with God. This hope fills my heart with joy, as I am certain about the end, and who I will spend it with. If the passage ended here, maybe we would relax and get careless, but today's extract extends that hope into an unusual territory. 

We are told that the joy of salvation also extends into how I view tribulations and trials. How do joy and tribulations mix? How do I view hope from the prism of unusual and sometimes painful experiences? Only in God do these things make sense, and it is made clear from today's extract that no one else can make it all come together except God Himself. He allows trials that He has vetted to come my way, so I can learn patience. He dispenses them in the right measure and at the right time so that I can learn more about Him and his ways, and also learn more about His giftings and purpose for my life.

God doesn't waste resources. The experiences he brings teach me more about God than anything or anyone else can show me, and from those experiences, hope is birthed and sustained. Hope that is not founded on God is not defined as hope, because from today's extract, it is the Holy Spirit that is the inner and present manifestation of the hope living inside us. How do I look ahead if I have no clue what is going on? How do I expect good if God does not live inside of me? How do I know what next to do, where next to go, how else to act, if there is no divine guidance by the One who holds tomorrow in His hands?

Today is a new day; God wants to birth hope in us. He wants to live in us, so He can do His perfect work in and through us. He wants to make our lives a living testimony of His power, grace and strength. He will not compel anyone, but He will come into anyone who willingly opens his/her heart. When He comes in, eternal life is secured. Everything else that comes after becomes lessons and preparations towards the fulfilment of that hope. Will you let Him have his way? Will you open up to Him? His time of favour is here.