Sometimes we hope in things that are unrealistic. We hope to get a pony for Christmas even though we live in the city. Or we hope to get a boar even though we live in the Midwest as far from water as possible. Or we hope to become the next head coach of the Carolina Panthers even though we’ve only coached youth sports.
So, it’s easy to read a verse like Romans 5:5 and immediately wonder if it could really be true:
and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5 NASB, emphasis mine)
We’re not used to a hope that doesn’t disappoint, and yet that is more a function of what we’re hoping in and not so much hope itself. This verse is part of an encouragement from Paul about trusting in God to save us from hard times because He’s already saved us at the cross. We know with certainty that He saved us at the cross then, and that means we can hope without disappointment that He’ll save us again now.
Hope in Jesus does not disappoint. What He did before, He’ll do again. We can count on it.
