I was a mathlete in high school. No, that’s not a typo. I meant mathlete. With an ‘m’. I used to compete in math tournaments around the state. Sometimes I did great, other times just OK. But I thought it was a ton of fun. Solving math problems is like a puzzle, and I like puzzles.
Nerd.
OK fine. (I was also an athlete, by the way…) But I guess it’s this math propensity that makes me see today’s verse like an equation. The God of hope is explaining the formula for hope. If anyone should know, the God of hope should.
The formula seems to be joy + peace + belief = hope. Or maybe there’s some multiplication in there too. Something like: (J + P) B = H. Or is says “all joy” so maybe we have to put joy to the tenth power or something. I’m not sure I can write the formula correctly with this editor. Does it allow superscripts?
I’m getting off-topic.
The point is that hope comes from belief in God who supplies me with joy and peace. The joy and peace come directly from Him when I turn to Him with belief. The combination of His joy and peace with my belief equals hope.
Have you ever felt hopeless? I have. I think maybe everyone has, or will, at some point. This world can get really dark. To fill that hope void, look to the formula. Take your belief, even if it’s just a smidgen, and tell God about it. Say, “God, I believe! Help my unbelief!” Like the man in Mark 9:24. (Read that whole story. That man must have felt so hopeless until he cried out to Jesus with his meager belief.)
When you turn to God, holding out that little molecule of belief, He will pour out joy and peace on you, to the 10th power. And hope appears.
Dear God,
Thank you for providing all joy and peace for me and turning my pittance of belief into plentiful hope. You are big and good and loving and merciful and wise. I know I can trust you and hope that your plan, whatever it may be, will be the best.
CamDevo 