“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Written by Rev. Dr. Dave Smazik

We have been created for eternal communion with God, the source of all joy and peace regardless of circumstances, which enables us to live and express abundant hope in relationship with others.

It is the final phrase of this verse that we need to fully embrace for our hope to overflow – by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is God’s Spirit that gathers us as a community of disciples and provides the wellspring of our hope. Straining to develop personal reservoirs of hope and then trying to convince ourselves that it is possible through our own strength and initiative will leave us more drained and depleted than before we started. The work of the Holy Spirit is sometimes an undervalued subject in the cerebral way we approach faith in our tradition. But it is the act of relinquishing ourselves to the living presence of Christ’s spirit, and believing our hearts, minds, and souls can be filled by that Spirit, that allows hope to take root and flourish.

May you daily abound in hope through the resurrection-infused peace of Christ, the eternal love of God, and the endless power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.