HE DOSEN'T DISAPPOINT
By Mary Kassian

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“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God…and hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:2,5).

The quiet voice on the other end of the phone sounded defeated, expressionless, emptied of life. Faced with a debilitating personal illness, a suicidal son, a daughter with learning problems, and a husband who, due to his failing business, was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, my friend was emotionally spent. The medication couldn’t stop her downward spiral into the dark pit of depression.

Her story is altogether familiar. Almost daily, I am confronted with the harsh reality of how women suffer. At times, their pain overwhelms me. I often don’t know what to say.  I can only trust in the promise of Scripture that “hope does not disappoint.”

To hope is to desire with expectation. It means to long for something with the certainty that the desire will be attained. According to the Apostle Paul, the key to facing suffering is to hope in the right thing – to place our hope in that which is certain. When we face difficult situations, most of us tend to place our hope in God answering our prayers in the manner and time frame we request. Our hope is that He complies with our agenda. Unfortunately, we are often blind to his plan and subsequently disappointed.

Hope that is certain is not hope for the resolution of the situation, (though we will most certainly cry out for it to end), but hope in the glory of God. The glory of God is that state of God-likeness that has been lost because of sin but that will be restored when we see him face to face. Even in the midst of great pain, we are able to look forward with great anticipation to sharing in the glory of all that God is and all that He has for us. We are able to cling to the certainty that in the end, our loving heavenly Father will make it right.

~ Dear Heavenly Father, help me fix my hope firmly on Your glory. May Your deep love for me fill me with certainty of the future I have in You. And may this hope fill me with joy in the midst of my sufferings. Help me remember that You are faithful and true and that I will not be disappointed when I hope in You. Amen.  

Related Links

More Than Positive Thinking
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About the Author

Mary Kassian is a Canadian author, conference speaker, and president of Alabaster Flask Ministries. She has developed a passion for ice hockey having spent countless hours in local rinks watching her three teenage sons play. Click to e-mail Mary: