Romans 15:13 (NRSV):
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Reflection:
Paul does not depict God as the God of certainty, control, or predictability. He describes God as the God of hope. That is significant. Hope is different from optimism. Optimism assumes things will get better because trends suggest they might. Hope depends on the character of God even when trends indicate otherwise. It is not naive; it is rooted. When Paul prays that believers would overflow with hope, he is not asking that they feel better about their circumstances. He is asking that their trust in God lead to a different way of experiencing those circumstances.
Hope, in this sense, is purposeful. It guides us toward a future defined by reconciliation instead of retaliation, restoration rather than resignation. To be full of hope is to live as though God’s promised future outweighs present fears. This does not eliminate grief or deny injustice. However, it refuses to let despair dominate our lives. Hope is not denial; it is resistance.
What makes this uncomfortable is that hope is not neutral. It takes sides—not in partisan terms but in moral direction. It strengthens someone. It leans toward the vulnerable. It aligns with repair. To claim hope while remaining unaffected by suffering is incoherent. If hope does not change how we respond to conflict, inequality, or division, then it has become mere sentiment rather than genuine power. The Spirit does not fill us with hope so we can stay untouched. The Spirit fills us so that we participate in God’s future before it is fully visible.
Lent presses this further. Where have we mistaken caution for wisdom? Where have we called withdrawal maturity? There are times when prudence is needed. But there are also times when fear hides as realism. Hope reveals that disguise. It asks which future our choices support — one driven by anxiety or one built on trust. To live in hope is not to ignore risk. It is to refuse to let fear control love.
Application:
Identify one area of tension in your life or community where you’ve been withdrawing. This week, take one small step toward engagement instead of distance — a conversation, a presence, a decision.
Writing Prompt:
Where have you accepted being “uninvolved” when hope might mean getting involved?
Prayer:
God of living hope,
fill us with a trust that overcomes despair.
Help us distinguish between neutrality and faithfulness.
Align our lives with your restoring future.
Amen.