The nurturing of hope during the times of pain and trials

Good day to you, dear friends! I hope that this „Daily Word for Spiritual Edification” inspires you daily. Please, let us know how God encourages you through this teaching. It will be an encouragement for us.We talked about the fact that problems in themselves do not make us mature if we do not make proper steps. Right actions are the outcome of right understanding. For this very reason, for the past two days we have been discussing the need to have the revelation of inevitability of problems and of the nature and essence of problems. Today let’s talk about the nurturing of hope during the times of pain and trials. Let’s read Paul’s Epistle to Romans (8:24-25):

“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”

These verses remind us that we have been saved in the hope. When you go through pain, you cannot lose hope. According to the „Good News Bible”, Romans (8:24-25) says the following:

«The waiting does not belittle (humiliate) us just like it does not belittle (humiliate) a pregnant woman. We only grow in our waiting. Of course, we do not yet see that which is growing in us. But the more we wait the bigger it becomes, and our expectations become more joyful».

Here we see that hope helps us move forward in spite of the temporary hardships. We also see that biblical hope is bigger than just passive waiting for the changes in our situation. Biblical hope stimulates inner growth. It is like a baby in mother’s womb, which grows until the time of delivery comes.God desires of us to wait in hope for the full redemption of our bodies which is going to occur at the Coming of Jesus. Such a hope helps us to not only patiently go through any pain and sufferings, but also to grow and be transformed by expectation of our Lord.In order for us not to lose heart, we have to feed ourselves with the Word of God and draw the power from the Holy Spirit living in us. During this time of expectation we do have the Holy Spirit Who strengthens and empowers us. During the times of pain and suffering pray to God „with groanings that cannot be uttered”and let the Holy Spirit strengthen you in the moments of weakness.

«Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God» (Romans, 8: 26-27).

«At the times when we tire from the waiting God’s Spirit is always along us to help us. It does not matter if we do not know how to pray and for what. He completes our prayer in us and for us, creating prayer from the groanings that cannot be uttered. He knows us better than we do ourselves, knows our pregnant state and continuously holds us before God» (Good News Bible).So, nurture the hope in you by praying in the spirit, strengthening your heart by God’s Word and trusting the Holy Spirit. May your difficulties renew and strengthen your inner man daily.Till tomorrow!Pastor Rufus Ajiboye