The Established Path of Discipleship

To encourage someone who wants something to happen, people sometimes say, “Hope springs eternal.” This is a shortened version of a line from the Alexander Pope (1688-1744) poem, “An Essay on Man.” The original line is “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.” For Pope, hope was inherent in the human spirit. If hope is inherent in the human spirit, then why do some lose the desire to live without hope while others plod along in a nihilistic fog?

There is a universal need for hope, but it’s often misplaced. Christ is the hope for all, Jews and Gentiles alike. The Apostle Paul’s prayer, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Rom. 15:13), underscores the role of faith in receiving joy, peace, and hope. The source of joy and peace is the God of hope, who fills us with these blessings through our belief. For the Jew, it’s in believing that Christ was the suffering servant who confirmed the promises given to the patriarchs (Rom. 15:8). For the Gentile, it’s in believing that Jesus is the Messiah from the “root of Jesse” who came to rule over and save us (Rom. 15:12). Faith, your active belief, is the pathway for joy and peace.

Joy and peace are wonderful, but they are not the ultimate goal. God gives them “so that through the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” This hope, which sustains us through this darkened world, comes only through the Holy Spirit. It’s not something we can conjure up through positive thinking or catchy sayings like “hope springs eternal.” It doesn’t spring in or from the human breast, but from the God of hope, who freely gives hope to those who believe.

If you are struggling to find hope, make this your prayer:

Remember, faith is the pathway to joy and peace, and abounding hope is yours through the power of the Holy Spirit.