Hope Series Episode 16

Hope Series Episode 16

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But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:25

Hello, my walking friend! In the intro to the 15th episode of the hope series, I shared the benefits to your mood of walking just 10 minutes a day in nature. Well, here’s more evidence and motivation for taking these 10 minute walks with Jesus! A 2018 study published in Health Promotion Perspectives showed that just 10 minutes of walking lowers anxiety and depression and increases focus and creativity. Think of all the problem solving that is going on in your subconscious while you walk! And you, as a follower of Jesus, are getting a supernatural boost to your mood, focus, and creativity by the power of the Holy Spirit in you. Keep doing what you are doing, my friend!

Today is the 16th episode in the hope series and our verse to meditate on is Romans 8:25:
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Boy, patience is not something we are born with, am I right? I think of my grandchildren and how often I have to say, “Hold on a minute” and how much their frustration at having to wait…for just about anything…is so evident! As we get older, it gets a little easier to be patient, but not much, if I’m being honest. But the truth is, patience is a sign of our spiritual maturity. It is the evidence that we have faith in God, his plans and purposes, and we trust him in the waiting room of life.
The concept of patience is deeply rooted in our faith. It is not merely the ability to endure, but a deliberate trust and hope in God’s timing and promises. In Romans 8:25, Paul is urging us believers to embody patience as we eagerly anticipate the fulfillment of God’s promises. This verse invites us to wait with unwavering trust, regardless of how long we are in the waiting room. So patience is a key component of this verse and often goes hand in hand with hope.

But look at the first part of the verse – if we hope for what we do not yet have. If. Isn’t it interesting that Paul uses the word “if”. Are you hoping for God’s promises in your life? Are you hoping for his second coming? Are you hoping for the time when he will make all things right? Are you hoping for his work and will to be done on earth as it is in heaven? If we hope for what we do not yet have. If we hope. What are you hoping for?
I know for myself, it is easy to get so preoccupied with day to day life that I don’t even think about God’s promises. Yes, I get impatient for my earthly problems to be solved, I hope for solutions and I hope they come quickly. But I think I get so focused on the things of this world that I am not giving any thought to heavenly things or God’s promises. Do you ever feel this way? It’s easy to lose our heavenly perspective with the demands of daily life.

I think the early church, the church in Paul’s time, were very heavenly focused. They were eagerly awaiting the return of Jesus. They were expecting him to come back at any time. He was their hope, truly their hope. And I imagine they were getting impatient as each day went by without his return. I wish I were more impatient about that then the things that usually try my patience.

Maybe a practical application for us is to use our impatience in every day life as a reminder to shift our focus to God’s heavenly promises. To shift our perspective from an earthly one to a heavenly one. To eagerly await Jesus’ return, the way the early church did. To remember that whatever we are hoping for, that Jesus is with us in the waiting, and the Holy Spirit can empower us to have patience while we wait. To allow the Holy Spirit to deepen our faith and trust in Jesus while we wait. Let’s hope for the heavenly things we do not yet have, my walking friend, and let’s allow the Holy Spirit to empower us to do it with patience, trust, and faith.

Now let’s take a little time to meditate on today’s verse,
Romans 8:25:
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

You are now at the halfway point of your walk. If you need to be back in 10 minutes, this would be the time to turn around and head back.

The second half of our walk is an opportunity for reflection, meditation, and prayer. For many of us, myself included, this might feel challenging. But the spiritual rewards, and transformation, that come from developing this discipline is great and so is the power of the Holy Spirit to help us. So let’s start with some questions that will guide you in the process of reflection.

What are you hoping for in life that you don’t yet have?

Does it feel easier to trust Jesus with your salvation than to trust him with your life on this side of heaven? If you said yes, why do you think that is?

What can you do to trust Jesus with every aspect of your life, today and all your tomorrows? Do you believe there is a correlation between your trust in Jesus and how your level of hope?

Now let’s listen to today’s verse one last time:
Romans 8:25:
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Is there anything else you would like to talk to Jesus about? Anything going on in your life? Remember he is right there with you, walking with you, and he is eager for you to share all that is on your heart and mind with him. Take some time to talk to him now.

Now I am going to pray for us:
Dear Jesus,
There is so much brokenness in this world. There are days when I feel like the chaos and uncertainty around me will crush me. And there is brokenness in me, in my thoughts, in my body. Even when I am feeling great and my thoughts are pure, I know that my body is still aging and my thoughts can turn in the blink of an eye. And waiting for change, genuine change, is so hard. It is so hard to wait patiently. Thank you for the Holy Spirit, who can comfort me and build me up in the waiting. Thank you for allowing the Holy Spirit to transform my character through the process. Jesus, I do believe your words are truth. I do believe you will keep every one of your promises. You are trustworthy and faithful and worthy of my praise. I know I can wait with confident hope because I know that one day you will make all things right. Until then, thank you Jesus for walking with me always. Amen.

Well, my walking friend, you did it! Another 10 minutes of walking and another opportunity to build the spiritual discipline of prayer and quiet time with Jesus, our heavenly hope. I’m grateful for you and I’m grateful you took the time to walk with me today.

For more Walk with Jesus resources, including the Walk with Jesus 21 day scripture, devotional, and guided prayer journal book for walkers, go to WalkWithJesusDevotional.com. You will find the URL for the show notes for this podcast in the episode description.

I hope we can walk together again tomorrow, friend, as we continue our series on hope. Until then, God bless you as you walk with Jesus.