The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon

“And not only this, but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” 

—Romans 5:3–5

This passage teaches us that hope has the most unexpected origins. Upon seeing suffering, our human reaction is almost never, “Ahh, there is hope being born.”

In this world, we will likely endure things that, by all earthly standards, should shake our hope and faith. But the true measure of our hope will come clear through these situations.

Where others see only a useless valley of dry bones in our lives, the one who hopes believes the Lord will raise those “bones” from the dead, and, in the process, make us warriors for him (Ezekiel 37).

Where others see only ravenous lions, the one who hopes believes the Lord’s angels can close the lions’ mouths (Daniel 6).

Where others see only the evil of men, the one who hopes believes that God is working it all for good (Genesis 50:20).

Hope cannot exist if there is no valley, no lions, or no evil. It lives in defiance of the sorrow of this world and goes on, even when its outcome is not realized in this life (Hebrews 11:13). It’s about believing that God will make a way where there is no way . . . where we could never make a way with every ounce of skill and effort and willpower we have (Isaiah 43:19).

Living in hope is not living in the absence of suffering but living by the power of the Holy Spirit in spite of suffering.

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