And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8: 28
In what things? In ALL things. We need to be joyful in our hope because no matter what happens, no matter what the answer is to our prayers, it is always for our good. God does not work for our detriment beloved. He does not carelessly hurt us or deny us because of malice. Everything good in this life comes from God alone:
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1: 17
We change all the time. The world changes in the blink of an eye. God never changes. But here is the problem with us sometimes. When we are hoping and the hope is deferred or denied we fail to recognize that the deferment or denial is also a good and perfect gift from God. He sees what would happen if you were to have the answer of "yes" to your hope. He sees how it turns out for you and because He is specifically working all things out for your good He has no choice but to say "no" or "wait." The key is not our will but God's will:
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 1John 5: 14
His will for our life is to give us the hope and a future outlined in Jeremiah 29:11. He has the plan already. And because of the promises in Romans 8:28 we have the confidence of knowing that whatever the answer is to our prayers it is always in our best interest. That is how you remain joyful in your hope. To not listen to the lies of the enemy who will whisper in our ears that God doesn't love us or the heavens are brass. Those of you who are parents will attest that you do not give everything to your children that they ask for because you simply know better than they do. Well we are all children of God and He simply knows better. I am sure we can look back on some of the things we thought we wanted that God said "no" to and thus protected us and the plans He had for our lives. Hallelujah and thank you Lord!
The second instruction from the key verse today is to be patient in affliction. The first thing we need to take away from this is the realization that everyone will go through periods of affliction in their lives. We live in a sin-saturated and fallen world and the wages of sin are death. Too often we can view affliction and suffering through the lens of the world, which questions God for the fallen state of man. Jesus warned us specifically about the reality of affliction:
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16: 33 (NLT)
