We Are Hopeful | Qualities of Women Who Trust Jesus Series
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” —1 Peter 1:3
Birth is an absolute miracle. Fresh-outta-the-oven mini humans enter the world at a rate of 4.5 births every second (theworldcounts.com, 2022)!
Imprinted in my memory forever is the first time I experienced a live birth. After hours of hard work in that hospital room, my sweet friend launched new life into the world. All the waiting of nine months and all the waiting of labor culminated into head, then shoulders, then a whole human body suddenly in the room who hadn’t been there a moment ago. To watch this wobbly, little creature writhe and struggle and take his first breath was overwhelming.
Because it’s a creation-miracle right before our eyes, watching a life enter the world has a profound impact on us. It feels like a “let there be light” moment where the very God of the universe is at work, speaking into existence what was not there before. And we marvel.
Jesus taught that in order for a person to see the kingdom of God, they would have to be “born again” (John 3). It’s a creation-miracle, a birth that’s only made possible by God’s Spirit. When we place our faith in Jesus, we are a new and altogether different creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). In the physical, each one of us was born into a specific gene pool, and, similarly, as followers of Christ, we are also born into something.
We’re born into hope.
It’s an inseparable part of us, running through our veins. It’s a buoyant anticipation that cannot be drowned by the circumstances of life.
Hope is living inside us. Living. It’s fresh and strong, full of vitality and power. It makes pleasure possible on the bleakest days and makes joy achievable even in uncertainty. The hope of the Christian holds power and will never disappoint (Romans 5:5); it is our confident expectation of an eternity well-spent with Jesus (Titus 3:7).
Work can consume you, money can burden you, family can betray you— even your own body can fail you— but no one can take away your hope.
Bills, laundry and dirty dishes can pile up, but nothing can diminish your hope.
In eternity, there won’t be any burdens, betrayals, bills... or laundry. So, we have a lot to look forward to! Though our hearts briefly darken with the shadows of this life, hope lights us up again with confident expectation for what’s to come.
Sister, what’s on your heart today? Let’s link arms and remember that hope is a part of our life-blood now, a constant reminder of the beautiful future in store for us. We’re born anew, and by the power of the Spirit, we will live today as hopeful women.
REFERENCES:
https://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/how-many-babies-are-born-each-day
For Your Journal
Find It:
In this portion of your journal, write out a Bible verse. You can find a verse that fits a current life situation or use the one we used in today’s devotion.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” —1 Peter 1:3
Fix It:
In this portion of your journal, pull out a few key words from the verse you chose above, or summarize the verse in your own words. Write it in pretty lettering or sketch something that will help you visualize the meaning of the verse and fix it in your mind. Repeat these words to yourself throughout the week to remind you of the truth contained in the scripture. Here are some options:
Living HOPE
BORN
Feel It:
In this portion of your journal, write out a prayer. The goal is to absorb the meaning of the Bible passage and let it take root in your heart. Ask the Lord to let his word change you by the power of his Spirit so that you begin to feel like the new person you’re becoming in Christ. Surrender any areas of your life that you are trying to control.
Dear Jesus, I find it fascinating that in your conversation with Nicodemus, you equated faith to being re-born. It’s a beautiful word picture for the creation-miracle that took place in my heart when I put my faith in you. Help me believe that, in faith, I’ve been born into a spiritual gene pool of living hope. Let hope be an unquenchable force in my life— always redirecting my thoughts to eternity. Thank you for speaking hope into existence in my heart, a quality that wouldn’t be there without you. Amen.