May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Romans 15:13
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, people across the globe have experienced many losses, uncertainties, and challenges. With every wave, as cases of coronavirus fluctuate, new variants introduce new threats and cities around the world have to contend with health protocols and restrictions being introduced or reintroduced. It is no wonder that during these dark times, the mental stress and the feelings of despair, isolation, grief, and depression have been significant. At times, there appears to be no end to this pandemic. But don't lose hope.
As trying as this pandemic has been, humanity has also shown great resilience and innovation to respond in unity to this world threat. In our most difficult times, it is key for us to rely on our faith and to remember that our God is one of hope. With God's grace and the strength the Holy Spirit instills in us, we will get through this. Those with hope are shown to be able to succeed more in life, and to endure extraordinary circumstances longer than those that do not.
Remember the stories of Joseph who was sold to slavery, or the relentless confrontations Moses had to undergo to lead God's people to freedom, or the suffering that Job had to endure. These narratives show us how God will bless us and eventually lead us to the intended goal. These stories can give us hope that no matter the extent of the dark days we may be going through, God is with us and we shall persevere. We can carry on because we have hope.
Reflection: The words faith and hope are sometimes used interchangeably, yet they mean different things. How has your faith as a Christian given you hope?
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Hope is the theme for this week as we dive into this week's devotional study. Even with the difficulties of this pandemic, let God fill us with hope. Christian Calm Radio offers a weekly blog to help you with your quiet time, along with music channels with worship music, traditional hymns, and gospel music.