What Produces Hope?
“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3–4 nkjv).
Experts have dubbed Generation Z as “the hopeless generation.” Those born from 1995 to 2015 have higher suicide rates than other generation today.
What’s going on?
I think they see the emptiness of it all and wonder whether if there’s more to life.
Well, there is. But they won’t find it in material things or fame. They’ll find it in a relationship with God. David wrote, “For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God” (Psalm 38:15 nkjv). And in Psalm 130 we read, “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope” (verse 5 nkjv). We will find hope from God and from His Word. Proverbs 10:28 tells us, “The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing” (nlt).
So, if you’re a believer and your hope is in Christ, it will result in happiness. But if you’ve placed your expectations in other things, it’s all in vain. Jesus has what you’re looking for.
When you’re going through hardship, you’ll find out how real your faith actually is.
The Bible says, “We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3–4 nkjv).
It isn’t easy to be happy when things are hard. That’s what it means to “glory in tribulations.” But tribulation produces perseverance, or endurance. Then endurance produces character, and character produces hope.
When a Christian suffers and still glorifies God, it reassures the rest of us there never will be a valley so deep that God will not get us through it. It reminds us that our faith is real and will sustain us in our hour of need.
Copyright © 2020 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
From Pastor Greg Laurie
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