Hope IsSample

Hope Is a Necessity Have you ever watched a baby learning how to crawl? He rocks back and forth until he can take one small inch forward. Sometimes this process takes a long time, but the baby is determined. He demonstrates perseverance and presses on until he masters the maneuver. Even when things don’t go as he first expects, he doesn’t give up or lose hope. As people following Jesus, it’s essential to not give up. Hope keeps us moving forward, especially in those moments that don’t go as we expect them to go. That hope doesn’t come from ourselves, but from the Holy Spirit. Hope isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. Hope is a non-negotiable as we follow Jesus in this life. We need hope because without it, we’d give up. We will face trouble in this world and things won’t always go as planned. Addressing the church in Rome, Paul explained how God uses these times to help shape us: “We know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:4). The more we face struggles in this life, the more our perseverance, character, and hope grows. Like the baby learning to crawl, we must move forward with the hope that God is using our challenges to prepare us for bigger things to come. Pray: Jesus, thank you for showing us how to move forward in hope. Grow my perseverance, character, and hope in You. Reflect: How can the idea that Jesus is growing your perseverance, character, and hope in Him help to change your perspective in your current circumstances?