“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Therefore, it is only fitting for Paul to desire the God of hope to fill His people with joy and peace. When God’s people are focused on the essentials and not the trivials, there will be joy, peace, and hope.
When matters of conscience are not confused with matters of doctrine, when liberty of conscience is clearly understood and lovingly practiced by all, when God’s people keep the main things the main things, God’s blessings of joy, peace, and hope abound.
Few spiritual blessings are as sweet and precious as joy (i.e., gladness of soul), peace (i.e., tranquility of soul), and hope (i.e., confident optimism about the future).
Joy, peace, and hope transcend your current circumstances and are ever rooted in God and His unwavering trustworthiness.
Blessed be the God of joy, peace, and hope!
