Hope in waiting

"For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." [Romans 8:24-25]

Isn't it hard when we are waiting for something big or life changing to happen in our lives?

Doesn't the time drag on, because we want it to happen now!

It could be we are waiting to have enough money saved for a deposit on our first house. Waiting for a long overdue promotion at work, waiting on test results, or waiting for pain and suffering to end. The list of things that can make waiting seem like an eternity is as long and varied as each of us. Furthermore, our culture today is driven by instant gratification and pushes to take shortcuts or complain about waiting!

The moment our lives are met with crisis, disappointment or loss, it becomes evident we need hope. We need hope to carry on and make it through whatever we are facing.

In verse 24 it begins: "For in this hope we are saved."

Our eternity becomes secure when we place our trust in Jesus, which is the greatest hope and outcome. That security gives us confidence to face any situation. This is the foundation of our faith.

But what about those unresolved things in our lives that we still don't have an answer for or an ending?

How do we wait well?

What does God want us to do and how does He want us to handle these waiting times in our lives?

In Romans 8:25, the apostle Paul encourages us by saying that we should look forward to something we don't have as yet and do so with patience and confidence. Earlier on in this chapter (verse 22-23), Paul compares any earthly suffering or season of waiting with childbirth. A woman giving birth experiences pain in the process, but she endures and presses on through because she knows that on the other side of that moment there is great joy and blessing.

The presence of sin in this world introduced the reality of pain and suffering into our lives; but God's promise of our ultimate deliverance reminds us that this is temporary. The Apostle Paul reminds us that our 'groaning' now is nothing when compared to all the good things, the great joy and blessing, God has in store for us in the future. If our hope is set on getting what we want then we stand the chance of being deeply disappointed. But, if we hope in God, we will never be disappointed.

Patience is not passive. We have to keep our eyes actively fixed on Jesus and keep planted in His word, where we will find His promises of hope. We can trust Him, regardless of time. So we wait well by anchoring our hope in the One whose promises are sure and whose character never fails.

Maybe you are in need of hope. Don't get tired of waiting. Instead, look to the God of hope and surrender the outcome to Him. He will work all things out for the good in His time and in His perfect way.

How amazing is that!

God bless