Emotions are such a wonderful gift from God. Have you ever really thought of them as gifts? And the number of them is so vast. We all possess them to varying degrees. I have always been amazed how each emotion varies in intensity among people. One person may have an endless supply of compassion and very little impatience. Another person may be full of anger and low in empathy.

1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” I agree, love is the greatest. We were created to love and to be loved. But of all the emotions we experience, my favorite is hope. 

To me, hope is life giving. Hope is like oxygen when I feel like I am choking on all the despair around me. Hope is fresh air when everything seems rancid and rotten. Hope lifts me out of my shoes, like the weight of the world has ascended off my shoulders. Hope is the trail that leads forward beyond the forest of darkness. Hope allows me to believe in all possibilities.

Such as, getting the call for an interview for a much needed job. The doctor saying, “We have other options we can try as treatment” for your sick child. Knowing the Search and Rescue team will keep looking for your lost family member. Situations like these cause us to hold on to hope. Even less serious, every day conditions have me clinging to hope. Hope is everything to me and causes me to pray even more fervently . 

Because the Lord’s word is filled with His promises of love, these words should also give us hope. So the next time you feel hopeful, say a prayer of thanksgiving to God for His wonderful gift.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”  Proverbs 13:12 NIV

“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.”  Psalm 39:7 NIV

“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.” Lamentations 3:25 NIV

“Be joyful in hope…”  Romans 12:12 NIV

“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

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV