Rejoicing in hope is an important part of the Christian life. Romans 12:12 says “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” This verse gives us three keys to living a life filled with joy and hope even in the midst of trials and difficulties.
What does “rejoicing in hope” mean?
To rejoice in hope means to have a confident expectation and delight in what God has promised to us for the future. As Christians, our hope is rooted in Jesus Christ and the salvation he offers us. Some of the hopes we can rejoice in include:
- The hope of eternal life with God (Titus 1:2)
- The hope of Christ’s return and the resurrection of our bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
- The hope of experiencing God’s glory (Romans 5:2)
- The hope of righteousness through faith in Christ (Galatians 5:5)
Even when we face trials and difficulties in this life, we can still rejoice because we have the confident assurance that God will fulfill all His promises to us. Our future is secure in Christ!
How can we rejoice in hope despite trials and suffering?
Rejoicing in hope despite our difficult circumstances is not always easy. Here are some practical ways we can continue to rejoice in the midst of trials:
- Remember God’s past faithfulness. Reflect on ways God has been faithful to you in the past in order to be encouraged that He will continue to be faithful (Lamentations 3:21-23).
- Focus on eternal perspective. Set your mind on the glories of heaven and your perfected relationship with Christ for eternity. Your current trials are momentary compared to the joy to come (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
- Trust in God’s sovereignty. Believe that God has complete control over every aspect of your life. He can use even the most difficult trials for your good and His glory (Romans 8:28).
- Give thanks. Choose to give thanks to God in the midst of your struggles. Thanking God for His presence and promises will fill your heart with joy (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
- Look to Christ’s example. Jesus endured immense suffering but did so with joy because He focused on the hope of glorifying God and providing salvation for sinners (Hebrews 12:2).
- Keep an eternal perspective. Remember that your trials are temporary but their impact is eternal. They are producing in you an eternal glory that outweighs any suffering (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
- Trust in God’s future grace. Be confident that God will give you sufficient grace and strength for each day. His daily mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).
- Pray through difficulties. Bring your needs, pains, and requests to God. Cast your anxieties on Him through prayer (Philippians 4:6-7).
- Set your mind on Christ. Fill your mind with the truth of who God is and what He has done for you. Dwelling on His unchanging nature increases joy (Isaiah 26:3-4).
- Serve others. Get your eyes off yourself and your circumstances and onto serving your church and reaching the lost. Serving others fosters joy (Acts 20:35).
What other biblical principles relate to rejoicing in hope?
There are many other biblical truths that connect to having hope and rejoicing even in the midst of trials:
- God’s love: We can rejoice because we know God loves us unconditionally and eternally (Zephaniah 3:17).
- God’s mercy: We can rejoice because God’s mercies never end; they are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).
- Contentment: Maintaining contentment guards our hearts and minds and enables us to rejoice (Philippians 4:11-12).
- Heavenly rewards: Keeping our eyes on the eternal rewards motivates us to rejoice now (Matthew 5:11-12).
- Spiritual armor: Putting on the armor of God protects us emotionally and spiritually so we can rejoice amid attacks (Ephesians 6:10-18).
- Prayer: Consistent prayer results in the peace of God that transcends understanding and sustains rejoicing (Philippians 4:6-7).
- God’s Word: The Bible comforts and encourages us, giving us reasons to rejoice (Romans 15:4).
- Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit produces joy within us that is not dependent on circumstances (Galatians 5:22-23).
- Testimony: Remembering God’s past faithfulness builds our trust in Him and enables future rejoicing (Psalm 77:11-12).
How can rejoicing in hope help us through difficult times?
Rejoicing in hope, even in the midst of trials and suffering, provides many important benefits:
- It is an act of worship and obedience to God (Hebrews 13:15).
- It is a witness of the grace and power of God to others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
- It lifts our perspective from the temporal to the eternal (Colossians 3:1-2).
- It enables us to more fully experience God’s presence and comfort (Psalm 94:19).
- It gives us strength to endure suffering and persevere (Nehemiah 8:10).
- It protects us from bitterness, discouragement and despair (Hebrews 12:3).
- It enables us to live by faith rather than feelings or circumstances (2 Corinthians 5:7).
- It provides an attractive light that draws people to the hope of the gospel (Matthew 5:14-16).
Rejoicing in the midst of suffering demonstrates the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ. It shows the world that our hope depends on the eternal, unshakeable promises of God.
How does Christ give us a reason to rejoice in hope?
Christ gives us every reason to rejoice in hope, even in our most difficult times:
- His death provides forgiveness and reconciliation with God, giving us eternal hope (Romans 5:8-11).
- His resurrection conquered sin and death and gives us victory over fear and despair (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).
- His ascension and reign mean He is constantly interceding for us, giving courage (Romans 8:34).
- His second coming promises that all suffering and crying will cease for eternity (Revelation 21:3-4).
- His indwelling Spirit produces love, joy, peace and other fruits to sustain us (Galatians 5:22-23).
- His living Word comforts, exhorts and encourages us (Psalm 119:50).
- His unending grace provides strength and help for every trial (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
- Hismighty power works all things for eventual good (Romans 8:28).
- His faithfulness means He will complete His good work in us (Philippians 1:6).
- His constant presence assures us we are never alone (Matthew 28:20).
Because of who Christ is and what He has done for us, we have endless reasons to rejoice in hope every day of our lives!
What are some habits or practices that can help us rejoice in hope each day?
Developing habits and disciplines focused on maintaining joy and hope will help us rejoice even in the toughest times. Here are some daily practices that can make a difference:
- Starting each morning thanking God and meditating on His Word (Psalm 5:3).
- Making prayer our first response in every situation rather than anxiety or fear.
- Keeping a gratitude journal reminding us of God’s blessings and past faithfulness.
- Regularly singing worship songs and hymns that focus our minds on truth.
- Memorizing and meditating on Scriptures that bring joy and hope.
- Reflecting each evening on evidences of God’s presence and working.
- Consistently fellowshiping with other believers who can encourage us.
- Serving others getting our focus off ourselves.
- Sharing our stories of hope in Christ with those who need encouragement.
- Looking for what is noble, lovely, admirable – dwelling on the positive (Philippians 4:8).
As rejoicing in hope becomes a consistent pattern in our lives, these habits will sustain us through even the most difficult valleys of life.
What are some biblical examples of those who rejoiced in hope despite trials?
The Bible provides many inspirational examples of godly men and women who chose to rejoice in hope despite extremely painful circumstances:
- Paul and Silas: They sang hymns of praise while in prison for their faith, and God delivered them (Acts 16:25).
- Early church: The apostles rejoiced after being persecuted and flogged for preaching Christ (Acts 5:40-42).
- David: He continually trusted in God’s future deliverance and protection amid enemies (Psalm 16:1, 8-9).
- Habakkuk: He determined to rejoice in God even if all his circumstances were bleak (Habakkuk 3:17-19).
- Job: After losing everything, he worshipped God and clung to the hope of his Redeemer (Job 1:20-22).
- Abraham: He persevered in hope against hopeless circumstances because of his faith in God’s promises (Romans 4:18-21).
- Nehemiah: He rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls despite intense opposition because of hope in God’s purpose (Nehemiah 4:14-20).
- Peter: He wrote to persecuted believers about their living hope and future inheritance (1 Peter 1:3-6).
The Bible highlights story after story of God’s people who chose rejoicing and hope in the midst of life’s harshest realities. We can follow their example.
What is the result of setting our hope fully on God’s grace in Christ?
When we set all our hope and expectation on God’s grace through Jesus Christ, powerful results occur in our lives:
- We experience God’s presence, peace, and joy in new ways (Isaiah 26:3).
- Fear is replaced with faith and confidence in God (Psalm 56:3-4).
- We are motivated to love and serve God more wholeheartedly (1 Peter 1:3-9).
- Trials become opportunities to display God’s comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).
- Eternal perspective infuses all our thoughts and decisions (Colossians 3:2-4).
- We are empowered to live boldly and sacrificially for Christ (2 Timothy 1:7-10).
- God’s promises become realities we cling to in dark times (Hebrews 10:23).
- We experience satisfaction and contentment based on God, not circumstances (Hebrews 13:5-6).
- Our lives demonstrate the surpassing worth of Christ above all (Philippians 3:8-9).
Every day we have the opportunity to set our hope fully on Christ and His grace. As we do, His presence and power transform our lives and empower us to rejoice in Him alone.
Conclusion
Rejoicing in hope is a key component in the life of faith. As believers, we can rejoice in the confident assurance that God will fulfill all His promises to us in Christ. Though we face difficulties and trials in this life, we can set our hope fully on the grace of God knowing He works all things for our eternal good. Fixing our eyes on the eternal inheritance Jesus purchased for us enables us to live with joy and hope every day of our lives. Our eternal destiny is secure. We can truly rejoice in hope!