Devotional: Friday, July 10
Hope That Waits
Scripture
Romans 8:24–25 (ESV)
"For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."
— Romans 8:24–25 (ESV)
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As we conclude Week 4 of The Daily Table, we are reminded that Christian hope is unlike any other kind of hope. The world often uses the word hope to express uncertainty.
"I hope it doesn't rain."
"I hope everything works out."
But biblical hope is not wishful thinking. It is confident expectation rooted in the promises of God.
Paul writes, "Hope that is seen is not hope."
If we already possessed everything God has promised, faith would no longer be necessary. Hope looks beyond what our eyes can see and trusts what God has already declared to be true. That is why hope and waiting belong together.
We wait because we know God is faithful.
We wait because His promises are certain.
We wait because the One who began a good work will bring it to completion.
Waiting does not mean God has forgotten us.
Waiting is often where hope grows strongest.
Every season of waiting invites us to decide where we will place our confidence.
Will we trust only what we can see?
Or will we trust the God whose faithfulness has never failed? Throughout this week we have learned that God makes everything beautiful in His time. We have learned to wait for the vision, to wait with confidence, and to remember that the Lord is never slow to fulfill His promises.
Now Paul reminds us that all of this is sustained by hope.
Not hope in circumstances.
Not hope in people.
Hope in Christ.
As a church, we continue to trust God's perfect timing for every step ahead. As individuals, we continue to trust Him with the prayers that remain unanswered and the dreams that remain unfinished.
Because our hope is not built upon what we can see today. It is anchored in the God who has already secured our future through Jesus Christ. Whatever you are waiting for today, let hope steady your heart. The God who has been faithful in the past will be faithful again.
Wait with patience.
Wait with confidence.
Wait with hope.
Reflection Questions
- Where have you been tempted to base your hope on what you can see rather than on God's promises?
- How has God's faithfulness in the past strengthened your hope for the future?
- What does it look like to wait patiently with confident hope this season?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you that our hope is secure in Jesus Christ. When we grow weary in waiting, remind us of your faithfulness and your promises. Strengthen our hearts to trust what we cannot yet see, and help us wait with patience, confidence, and hope. May our lives reflect the quiet assurance that you are always faithful. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Sources
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. (2016). Crossway. (Original work published 2001).
Moo, D. J. (2018). The Epistle to the Romans (2nd ed.). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Stott, J. R. W. (1994). The Message of Romans. InterVarsity Press.
