To Hope is the Verb Form of God

Today’s reading: Romans 8:18-25

I have a bad habit that uses the word “hope” to work against hope.

“I hope I make it to the meeting on time,” I say. Or “I hope my friend is not mad at me.”

What I really mean, of course, is, “I’m worried I might not make it to the meeting in time.” Or “I’m worried my friend is mad at me.”

I’ve decided in these devotionals at least once before  that worry  is a sin. So, I need to change my habit. Fast.  Today’s reading will help me do that.

“For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Verse 24-25)

If I can just remember those lines, I will never misuse the word hope again. And I think I’ve come up catchy summary for those verses:  to hope is God in verb form.

Since we are saved through hope, hope must come from God. That means hope is God. Sticking with that logic, then, the act of hoping is, simply, being with God.

Keeping all of that in mind put a whole new spin on, “I hope I make it to the meeting on time.” In this new light, that sentence now means, “God is good, so I have no reason to worry about making it to the meeting on time.”

Transitioning to this heavenly dialect will take some practice. But I’ll get it down. It’s exciting to realize how many negative thoughts one little piece of scripture can eliminate from my life.

Thanks be to God for His eternal hope. May I stay focused on it forever.