There are many names for God in the Bible. Most times I refer to God, Father or Heavenly Father, especially in prayer. However, someone told me recently that I should consider expanding my vocabulary—and the way I think about God.
Hearing that put me on a quest to discover the unlimited names to describe God’s attributes and nature. It is comforting to call God by the name that I need in a given situation. It is an acknowledgement that God has many dimensions.
One of the names I discovered recently is the God of Hope. When I wake up each morning, I need something to motivate me and give me hope. In the recent “Frankenstorm” Sandy, we lost electrical power and then the temperature dropped… it was pretty cold. When the utility company indicated it did not have an estimate for restoration, it sounded like a hopeless situation.
But then I saw all of the devastation in neighborhoods that were far worse off than mine; being out of power is not pleasant, but there were people who had no food or drink. I am still praying for speedy restoration for them. I was dreading having to relocate my mother—but at least I had family whose power was up and running and could take her.
Still, it felt hopeless, and I went looking for some assurance that would boost my spirit. My normal practice is to read the Scriptures each morning, and thus I read Romans 15:13, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” This caused my heart to leap.
Maybe you cannot see how your life will ever be rebuilt or how you will move forward. Life is full of disappointments, but the God of Hope wants to give us new eyes to see the possibilities that are in front of us. Knowing that God is always full of hope keeps me running to him, especially when mine is failing.
My prayer point is that we should all ask the God of Hope to fill us with joy and peace. Joy does not mean laughter, and peace does not mean avoiding uncomfortable circumstances. Joy and peace come in knowing that we are not alone: The God of Hope is with us and wants us to believe that renewal is coming to our hearts. Believing is not always easy, but it is necessary to have a confident and steadfast faith in the God of Hope.
May you abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. God bless you!
