THE BELIEVER'S HOPE

The believer's hope is his confident persuasion of God's goodness and mercy in Christ. It is an expectation of all necessary good both in time and eternity, rounded upon the promises, relations, and perfections of God, and upon the righteousness, shed blood, and intercession or Christ. It is a combination of desire, expectation, patience, and joy. By faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we are persuaded that God is both able and willing to do us good, and we expect him to do so. This is our hope. Our circumstances may vary. Our confidence may, at times, diminish. Our assurance may waver. And our sense of joy may decline. But our hope never changes, for our hope is in the Lord. "The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him." (See Lam. 3:21-26). Here are four things which give me hope. Here are four solid, immutable pillars upon which I rest my soul continually.

1. God's Immaculate Mercy

Some people trust their works; others place all confidence in their religion; but we know that, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed". As a guilty sinner I have no hope but in God's eternal, redemptive, immutable, and daily mercies.

2. God's Unfailing Love

To those who are in Christ, "God is love". "Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end." God's love is sure and immutable. He who so loved me that he gave his only Son to redeem me, will not withhold any good thing from me. This gives me hope - "His compassions fail not." The eternal God will never cease to love his own!

3. God's Unchanging Faithfulness

"Great is thy faithfulness'" This I know, God is faithful. He is faithful to his Covenant, his Word, and to his People. Divine faithfulness fills me with hope.

4. God's Inexhaustible Goodness

'The Lord is good'" Surely, then, he will do good for all who seek him and wait upon him with faith, hope, and patience.