"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 NIV)
In Luke’s Gospel, Mary sings a song of joy (Luke 1:46-55) after learning she will give birth to Jesus. Her song declares hopeful expectations for Jesus to lift up those who are often without hope. This has a long-term aspect, anticipating the day when God will restore all brokenness in the world; but also anticipates that the restoring work will begin in the present.
This is the same hope Paul points to in Romans 15:13. A hope that overflows, even when things look most hopeless. In hope, we challenge the reality of brokenness through the power of the Holy Spirit, experience joyful flourishing as God intended, and peacefully rest in the knowledge that it is not all up to us. We actively partner with God now, while also trusting God to complete the restorative work in ways we cannot.
This is a hope that doesn’t always make sense, but that we trust God to fulfill. Is it easy or difficult to believe in this hope right now? How might God be inviting you to respond?