Hope Without Disappointment

And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:5 NLT

Read Romans 5:3-11

We have all had disappointments in life. As children, we may have wished to be picked first for a particular playground game, only to be among the last selected. We may have poured incredible effort into a school paper, and we were surprised and unhappy when the grade received was less than the A+ we thought we deserved. And we may have been rejected for that perfect third-round interview job we felt sure was in the bag. 

One thing we hope for that will not lead to disappointment is the love of God. We know this by looking at the evidence of previous experience, at all the times God has answered our prayers. If there is no doubt, it no longer becomes hope but certainty. Hope becomes trust. We trust "that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28). Though we may not understand the why of life's disappointments, we can trust God that everything will be okay.

That doesn't mean that the "working together for good" thing God does is immediate, and the waiting is easy. Sometimes, we may even be disappointed in the answer or what we feel is the lack of one because it doesn't align with our desires. In those hard-to-face waiting times, when we think there's radio silence from God, we can hope without disappointment. He has led us through the past and will lead us in the future.

Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts open, seeking Your presence. Your Word speaks of hope, endurance, and the depth of Your love. We lift our voices in prayer, confident that You hear us. Thank You for the perspective that suffering brings. Just as Paul rejoiced in his tribulations, help us find purpose even in our trials. May we learn patience and grow stronger through adversity. Your love knows no bounds. When we were weak, Your Son came to die for us—the ungodly. What a profound demonstration of Your grace! We stand justified by His blood, saved from Your wrath. Holy Spirit, pour Your love into our hearts. May our hope never waver, for Your love abides within us. We are not ashamed, for our trust rests securely in You. Lord Jesus, You reconciled us to God. Through Your sacrifice, we find peace and joy. May we continually rejoice in our salvation, knowing that Your grace abounds. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Blessings,

Pastor Tim