Background
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”
Romans 15:4 NKJV.
“That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 1:9 NKJV.
Have you ever been in a situation so difficult that it ended you clueless about what to do? Were you at the urge of giving up and just succumbing to the voice of failure? In a moment at such, did you ever stumble across a word, or a text, or a video perhaps which was familiar to your situation and instantly changed your mindset or redirected your path? You then wiped your tears, cheered up, held your head up high, and found the courage to move on? This is hope catered by experience, let’s dive into the Word…
In Romans 15, Paul initiates the discussion of bearing with the failings of the weak. He goes further to speak on building up each other not to please ourselves but for the good of others, then leading to the first scripture of discussion; concerning the things that were written for our instruction. By this, Paul defines the scriptures as our manual, giving us the route through life. The verse continues that through the patience and comfort of scriptures, other versions would say through the endurance and encouragement of scriptures we might have hope. Paul hereby acknowledges the ups and downs that are bound to occur in life, and that encouragement is needed amidst these trials of life in order to bring hope. What is hope? By courtesy of google, one definition of hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen and another definition is simply a feeling of trust. You can only expect something to happen when you have seen a particular situation, perhaps through an experience. Experience, on the other hand, is practical contact with and observation of facts or events or an event or occurrence which leaves an impression on someone. So then experience assures hope, given to the fact that realizing an exact case ending up in the right results can bring comfort and trust. Romans 5:4-5 affirms that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience; and experience hope. And hope maketh not ashamed. Hence hope assures victory through faith.
This is what the scriptures ensure in this manual of life is recorded, heroic events, trials, and dead-ends which turned out good for the ones who journeyed circumspectively with God, their lives attest that hope is never in vain. You see, life holds no surprises as Ecclesiastes helps us understand, everything in life is a repetition of events. My mum is of the sixties, whenever there is a new trend in fashion she would remind me of how she used to “slay” in these styles back in the day. So it is in this day, events past reoccur but men are unattentive to the lessons of the past, to apply in the present. David said in Psalm 119:50 NKJV, this is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. By this, the Psalmist acknowledges the awakening, clearance, and direction the Word of God brings amidst affliction, confusion, and chaos.
In Romans 4:18-23 NKJV, Paul reminds us of the promise made to Abraham, and how by faith he did not look to his physical state to discredit the promise. Though he was about a hundred years old and Sarah’s womb considered dead, he did not stagger the promise of God but was strong in faith. Faith described by google is complete trust or confidence in someone or something or a strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof. Biblically, faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. Faith is the driver of hope, faith believes that hope will come alive. So then experiences even when absent, can through faith bring hope, birthing things that were not to become, this was the pattern of the patriarchs though they had no one to look up to, this was the ingredient they had, this made them achieve the impossible, and their lives serve as the pathway for us to follow today. Also with hope comes desire, another magic ingredient of the patriarchs, in Proverbs 13:12 the Word says that hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life, desire makes the dream a reality, paired with faith that is willing to act. Hope can be deferred when faith discounts actions, no situation is a dead end when one is willing to take responsibility or action. James 2: 17-22, affirms how faith without works is dead, appropriating the example of Abraham once again of how his Faith in God was showcased in actions, leading to results and fulfillment.
I encourage you today beloved, no matter what you are going through hope in God, let His Word be your guide, allow the Word to uplift your faith, by the experiences written therein, desire and act! Your life will attest of the glory of God, have a blissful week.