Hope Not Yet Seen - by Robert Schaetzle
"For this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for we do not see, we wait for it with patience." (Romans 8:24-25 RSV)
"Our Hope" before us, through the weeks and months ahead, is certain to bring things not yet recognized or understood. Consider that our life each day is given new hope because God is faithful to us each new morning.
The God who is with us is the same God as yesterday, today, and for all those tomorrows still ahead. He doesn’t change, take naps or go on vacations. Our constant hope is reaching up to Him, persevering with prayer and the promise of His word.
God’s hope, though not yet seen, is our constant expectation of an unseen reality. Saved by grace through faith, waiting upon His promise through hope and perseverance, we’ll recognize the end result of our faith.
As a child, you might have been on a lengthy road trip to some special place, and you’d ask from the backseat of the car, “Are we there yet?” Your parent may have responded, “Almost,” which usually meant another hour or two before you'd get to Grandma's house.
Learning to be still and knowing God is working always in all ways can be difficult on our part, especially in our fast-paced culture of modern technology where everything's at our fingertips for instant results. But God is not part of our culture. I thank Him because I tend to expect instant answers. Experience has taught me that learning to wait upon His promise brings hope not yet seen with far greater promise.
Robert lives in Sunnyvale, CA serving in a ‘Sharing & Caring’ ministry. Contact |
