Hope Does Not Disappoint

Scripture: Not only so, but we also boast in tribulation, knowing that tribulation produces patience, patience produces character, and character produces hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Roman 5:5

Observation: Hard times develop us to the point of hopefulness in God, with the aid of the Holy Spirit. Hope, in other words, is a learned process. Our attitudes in life don't begin with being hopeful. Rather, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, during hardships - if we can be patient and thus develop character to endure - we will learn how to be hopeful in all situations.

Application: In praying for my son last night, I realized this is my real struggle. I am struggling with hope. I want to hope ... I wish I could simply relax and sit back ... but I am struggling. With weak hope, and have all those other emotions - fear, nervousness, sorrow, anger.

I need some patience. I need my character to develop. And I need some hope.

Prayer: Lord, I will continue to try to start to with patience. May I be still and know that you are God. The Lord of the universe, sitting on his throne, guiding all action of all creation, can certainly take care of the hopes of my son. So I will try to be patient, because I really, really need some hope. Amen.