A Hope Built on Trust
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
—Romans 15:13 (NIV)
Advent is a season of hope. It is a time of waiting and watching for the light. There is the anticipation of the Christmas holidays, and time with our family and friends, and all the possibilities of a new year. But anticipation and hope are not the same. Hope is built on trust— the faith that Jesus, “the light of the world,” is who he said he was and can do what he said he can do. St. Paul’s blessing in this verse is that you be filled with joy and peace so that our hope is not scant, but rather full and overflowing.
Paul spoke this blessing at a tough time when there were conflicts and divisions in the church. He appealed to the churches, “make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind” (Phil 2:2). He was well versed in Jesus’s instruction: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). It was true then, it is true now: there is abundance of peace and joy when we abide together in unity.
Paul reminds us “to bear with others … and to make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” He writes, “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, so that you bring praise to God.”
Our families and our churches and our society are diverse in myriad ways. Is there trouble? Do you foresee difficulties? What is the hope God has spoken to you for these relationships? Take a few minutes to ground these prayers in your family and local community. Notice how your trust in God brings peace and joy to the waiting, the anticipation inherent in a Kingdom that is at once already and not yet.
About the Author
Charles Ramsey, Ph.D.
University Chaplain & Dean of Spiritual Life
Charles M. Ramsey, Ph.D., serves the Baylor community as University Chaplain and Dean of Spiritual Life. He previously served as the Director for Campus Ministries and Church Connections and as Associate Chaplain. In his roles, Ramsey seeks to lead and nurture the spiritual and holistic development of the Baylor community while creating a vibrant, caring and supportive environment that reflects the University's Christian mission and historic Baptist roots. He also provides leadership for Baylor’s formative signature ministries, including Chapel programs, pastoral care, global and local missions, campus ministries, local church engagement and guidance to sports and nursing school ministries.
Ramsey graduated from Baylor in 1997 as a University Scholar (Phi Beta Kappa) and received his MA from the Department of Religion in 2000, and Ph.D. from the University of Birmingham (UK) in 2015. Prior to joining Baylor in 2017, Ramsey was ordained to the Gospel ministry in 2000 at Staples Mill Road Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, and was reaffirmed in 2017 at Highland Baptist Church in Waco.