Steadfastness of hope.

What an inspiring phrase. Here it is in 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (ESV): “We give thanks to God always for all of you… remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Hope.

We like it. We want it. We know it’s good.

But what difference does hope make when life is hard?

Let’s say it’s Wednesday and you’re having a bad week. But then a friend tells you there’s a party on Saturday night with your best friends. All of a sudden, Wednesday feels different.

Or perhaps your house is a mess because you’re undergoing renovations. You can’t use half your kitchen or find half your clothes. But then you re-look at the plans for the final product. Ah yes, our dream house is only three months away!

These two small examples show us that hope works backward to lift you forward.

As followers of Jesus, we have this big time. Through what he has done for us, we are right with God. We have eternal peace, forgiveness and heaven! He fills our lives with purpose. Jesus himself is coming back to put things right. He will usher in the new heavens and the new earth. There will be no more mourning or crying or death or pain! And we get to be a part of it! 

I know life can be difficult. But hope lifts your eyes to the horizon, enabling you to run through the muck because better is coming.

If you are in Christ, you have a great big hope. Not a small hope or a mediocre hope or a flimsy pushover hope—but a great big hope!

Hope works backward to lift you forward.

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Notes:

–“Hope lifts you forward.” Sermon, September 10, 2023. Click here.