Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer.— Rom. 12:12
I am troubled by the fact that I see so many unhappy Christians. To look at them you would think God is dead, or mighty sick and unable to help them. Why? How do we who have so much enjoy life so little? Pastor Jack Graham sheds some light on the subject with these words:
“What do you think is the one thing that really brings about joy and passion in our lives? I’ll tell you this: It’s not money. Money can get people going, but it won’t make them live with passion. I’d also say it’s not happiness. It doesn’t matter how happy someone is… happiness alone is a dead end road.
So what is it? Well, I’ve personally seen the one thing that really brings about joy, and it’s very simple: hope. This is especially true for Christians, who thrive on hope spiritually just as much as we do with oxygen physically. That’s because without the hope of heaven and the return of Christ, our faith becomes pointless.
But in Christ, we have a blessed and joyful hope that death isn’t the end. And it’s not a hope that wishes… it’s an eager expectation based upon a sure promise. It’s not just pie in the sky; it’s as sure as it can be!
Frankly, I talk with many people whose hope has run out. They’ve stopped believing in God’s promises and, as a result, have lost the joy that comes with the Christian life. Don’t lose hope. Cling to God’s every promise, and you’ll discover joy that goes beyond any circumstance!”
