No one who hopes in you
will ever be put to shame.(Psalms 25:3, NIV)
It is interesting how fear unconsciously and semi-consciously influences our lives. Is it not true that one of the reasons we do not trust God for difficult things is that we fear it will not turn out well? We fear he doesn’t hear us, or that he won’t act, or that we won’t like the way he acts. We fear letting go of our attachment to something in order to trust God in that area. We even fear that he won’t keep his promise to reward us in the next age for our sacrifices now. Yet God promises in his word that if we put our trust and hope in God, then we will not be put to shame.
In the Old Testament, to hope in God meant that God will give faithful believers material blessings, prosperity or victory over enemies. In the New Covenant that has changed. While God promises to answer our prayers for needs, he did not obligate himself to provide prosperity or defeat of worldly enemies. It is just the opposite. Here, we are sheep for the slaughter, and we should not lay up treasure on earth. All these other blessings will come to us on the New Earth after Jesus returns.
Yet it is still true that we will not be put to shame when we hope in God in this life. This means that our souls are not defeated by the enemies and corruption around us or in us. We do this by abiding in the goodness of Jesus. As we hope in God, we demonstrate the fruits of Spirit, which is the display of God’s character, no matter the circumstance. Thus, we are not disappointed; we live in victory.
Even more, our faithfulness to God leads us to the hope of eternity in God’s New Creation. This is our most important hope. Romans 5:4-5 explains that our suffering produces perseverance, which produces character, which gives us confidence in our future hope. And we know that our future hope is certain because of the Holy Spirit inside us. “And this hope will not lead to disappointment” (Rom 5:5, NLT).
Thus, we can put aside all fear and be encouraged that we can fully rely on him for his promises. He will fulfill all his goodness towards us.
How much do you consciously hope in God? What is there in your life that you have not placed your hope in God?
