Below is another blog post which started as a devotion in our church series Faith, Food, and Fitness. Once again, where you see “food” first mentioned below, it could instead be any substitute besides the Lord that you use to escape from anxiety—so it might be drinking too much, mindless TV binging, sensual daydreams, etc.
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:24-25
During the past several weeks we have experienced the season of advent. As we have attended holiday celebrations, we have (hopefully) experienced how much more this season is than just partying and stuffing our faces. During this season we anticipate the coming of our Lord Jesus. It is a time of hope….and of waiting. And as we wait we can reflect on how the Lord uses waiting to build patience into our character.
In today’s passage Paul is talking about present suffering and future glory. Through Jesus, God has done something wonderful, but it is not complete yet. Since all things are not the way they should be yet, it is easy to feel dissatisfied and impatient! And food can seem like such a quick easy fix for those bad feelings —I can feel better NOW. But that kind of hope is a hope that is seen and it is really no hope at all.
Can we just muster up our own will power to be free of quick fixes? No! We must rely on something outside of ourselves. It’s focusing on God and his power that will give us patience. Will we be perfectly patient each day? No. Will God give us the grace to change? Yes!
Be encouraged by Psalm 62:5 that points us to our source: “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”
Kenny B's World 