And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (NIV)

Have you ever hoped for something that others said was hopeless? Maybe it was something as simple as wanting ice cream for dessert or as important as repairing a relationship with someone you don’t get along with.

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It can be hard to believe in or to hope for something when others don’t seem to share your excitement over it. But Romans 5:5 tells us that “…hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” I think this verse means that when we hope, we don’t have to be ashamed or embarrassed by it. We can stand confident in our salvation because of God’s love.  

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Why do we have this hope? First, we have to understand what we’re hoping for. I think the answer to what we are hoping for is clear in Romans 5:2, where Paul writes, “…And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” When we show Jesus through our lives, that gives God glory. It gives Him glory when we have wholesome thoughts. That is what we are hoping for: that through our lives God would be glorified. That is what it’s all about.  

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And why do we hope that God would be glorified? In the end, it’s quite simple: Because God is God. He is Himself and He saved us, and He loves us, and wouldn’t we want to give Him glory for that? Think of it this way: If a few people are running a race, and one person wins, they get a trophy. Wouldn’t it be strange if the person who came in last said that they deserved the trophy? God’s glory is His trophy, and we are to “congratulate” Him on his “win” and give Him glory throughout our lives.

When you hope in God, it’s for God’s glory. And we can’t give God glory without action. Sometimes, it’s just through our thoughts that we can give Him glory, but our thoughts often become our actions. Pastor Brian was talking about mental health a few weeks ago, and he was saying that if you have negative thoughts about yourself, it can lead to harmful actions. Here, though, we want to do the opposite. We need to have positive, Godly thoughts that will lead to healthy actions.  

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It doesn’t have to be a huge thing, though. My dad told me once that when he thought of taking action for God, it looked like selling all your possessions and moving to Africa to be a missionary! But not everyone is called to do that. Sometimes it can look very simple, like reading your Bible a bit more, praying every night, or saying a kind word to someone. In your daily job or chores, do the best you can do, or maybe try to go above and beyond. Not because you can earn your way by works, but because God wants us to do our best in the tasks we are given. It doesn’t always mean we’ll do it right. I personally fail at doing my chores correctly sometimes because I can easily focus on just getting it done, instead of getting it done properly. But the point is to try to do it right.  

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Perhaps, though, it’s something harder or more intimidating than that, like asking someone if you can pray for them. Or when you are saying goodbye to someone, adding a little, “God bless you!” as you walk away. I have a hard time talking to people about my faith, and I tend to trip over my words or misspeak. Maybe if you’re like that, it might be helpful to text the person you’ve been wanting to pray for and send them some encouragement over the phone. These are some ways you could give God glory and give people some inspiration.

Dear Jesus, Thank You for this day. Thank You for everything You’ve given me today, for helping me through my challenges and being with me through the high spots. I’d like to ask for some help putting more hope and trust in You, and to not be ashamed of the hope that I have. Please help me to live out my faith, and to talk to people about it more often. I need some confidence, and I pray that You would give it to me along with Your comfort. I know You’re with me wherever I am, so please help me to feel your presence. In Your name, Amen.