Message summary: A steadfast hope in the promises of our faithful God dissolves disappointment. Our daily challenge is to keep our hope focused on the Lord. Indeed this hope will not disappoint. So I especially encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ today who are in the midst of a disappointing situation. Keep your hope in the Lord!

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"We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us" (Romans 5:3-5a).

We sang a song yesterday in our church service we both find to be a blessing that is titled "Christ Our Wisdom". It begins with these thoughtful lyrics:

We are all in some way familiar with disappointments, some far more profoundly than others. These are the times that God seems to hide His way from us. We've all had shattered dreams haven't we? We've been disappointed by something that just didn't work out as we had planned or hoped it would. Most likely each of us has had several profound disappointments in life and many, many lesser ones with some yet to come.

"We also rejoice in our sufferings".  We don't always understand the Biblical truth expressed in the daily verse. Specifically we have trouble rejoicing in suffering when we are in the midst of suffering!

But the equation is a continuum and interrelated: "Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope". The last two characteristics, character and hope, result from the first two; suffering and perseverance. I desire godly character and eternal hope which are the end result of suffering and perseverance. But during times of suffering and requisite perseverance we may face disappointment and it's sure hard to rejoice!

The sense is surely not that we rejoice because of suffering but rather we rejoice in it. A maturing spiritual outlook realizes that this is part of God's plan in forming the character of Christ within us. After all, if we want to share in Christ's glory we must also share in Christ's suffering (Romans 8:17).

Joni Eareckson wrote, "Your hardships, like nothing else, are preparing you to meet your God. Your suffering is getting you ready - for what proof could you bring of your love for Jesus if this life left you totally unscarred?"

In faith, cling to the last portion of our encouragement Scripture.  Read it slowly and appropriate it to your need today; "Hope does not disappoint us". The ultimate hope we have in Christ will not disappoint! One thousand years into eternity no one is going to regret having placed their full confidence and hope in Christ. May God give each of us the awareness today that our times of suffering do indeed work for our good, providing us with deep assurance that "hope does not disappoint".

A steadfast hope in the promises of our faithful God dissolves disappointment. Our daily challenge is to keep our hope focused on the Lord. Indeed this hope will not disappoint. So we especially encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ today who are in the midst of a disappointing situation. Keep your hope in the Lord!

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber