What Produces Hope?

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope.

Romans 5:3-4

What are the events and experiences which produce hope?  As Paul is expounding justification by faith, and the implications of it, he explains how it is that hope comes to be for us, and in us.  What is genuinely fascinating is that the origins of hope lie in tribulation, one of the things we would most sincerely like to avoid.  Yet, as Paul argues, tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance produces character; and character produces hope.  For us to endure the hardship of tribulation, and to continue to persevere through it, causes us to become people of character.  People of character have hope because they understand that there is much more to them and to their existence, than the things they have suffered.  These things which we have endured have brought us to identify with Christ, Who has suffered the greatest of tribulations, shown the most perseverance, and demonstrated the greatest evidence of character.  Christ has hope that all He endured will have the greatest of consequences.  Our tribulations, as they give way to perseverance, character, and hope bring us to understand Christ more thoroughly and to identify with Him more completely.

Our most Wise and Good God,
we rejoice that You have foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.
We praise You that all the things which You have ordained,
work together to give us hope in Christ.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning