Hope Does Not Disappoint

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:1-5 (emphasis added)

I experienced a stroke of insanity a few years ago when I practically begged Rose to invite me to speak at her widow’s conference. What was I thinking? I’m not a widow, and I never hope to be one. As the day drew near for the widow’s conference, the more ill equipped I felt. On the night I stood before the widows I confessed that it was with fear and trembling that I dared to address them. The Lord gave me Romans 5:1-5 for my message.

I chose those verses because they house the great promise of Romans 5:5: “And hope does not disappoint.” That phrase alone has comforted many people who’ve found themselves at the bedsides of loved ones, sleepless in the wee hours of the morning waiting for wayward children to come home, and sitting in courts listening to the judge’s gavel fall on another relationship divided by irreconcilable differences.

According to Romans 5:5, even in these difficult circumstances, “hope does not disappoint.” But when terrible things happen we are tempted to think that our hope disappointed us. After all, what we hoped for never came about. But read Romans 5:5 again: “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

When your hope is anchored in your circumstances you will be disappointed. But when your hope is fastened securely to the solid reality of God’s extravagant love you will not be disappointed.

Speaking to the widows challenged me to consider where my hope was anchored. Have I developed such a sweet walk with the Lord that I can say, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness?”[i] If your hope is anchored on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, you will never be disappointed—no matter what life throws your way.

Dear Lord, thank You for pouring out Your love on our hearts so that we can have the hope that does not disappoint. Please help me to remember that my hope is built on You. In Jesus’ name, amen.