Yes God greatly desires to give us all joy and peace, but there is a firm condition in this: we can only recieve this joy and peace, “as [we] trust in him….”
Yes, Lord, our part is to believe you, to live in the truth of what you are. As we look away from the aggravations, disappointments and difficulties of life to you, it is clear that we can trust you, the Great Shepherd.
In trust we can respond with praise, no matter how painful the situation is, because you, in your wisdom, grace and mercy have allowed this for good in our lives and for glory in yours.
Forgive us for the many times each day we trust ourselves instead of you. Help us to ever grow in our trust as we see you in the Word, in your work, in the world.
Trusting then brings more grace from you for us to live in and to pass on to others: “trust…so that your lives may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Here is your plan: the more we know you, the more we can trust you; the more we trust you, the more joy and peace you give us, and the more hope we can have.
This hope is the certainty of your goodness, power, wisdom and love surrounding us,
guiding us,
protecting us,
filtering all that comes to us,
carrying us through to the end
and then will come our translation into your presence.
As we trust, the Holy Spirit will, by His great, all-present, immeasurable power cause this hope to overflow from us onto those around us!
When we trust in you, Lord, we become the source of hope, the spring of hope, the stream of hope, the river of hope to everyone we meet, for it will flow out in our attitude, in our words, in our actions, in our reactions.
Those around us are thirsty for hope, and we can bring it to them by trusting in you. Glory be to you, O Great and Powerful One, our Wise and Loving, Just and Merciful Lord and God, for you accomplish exactly what this verse says so that we may give you ever increasing glory before the world!
Prayer: “Forgive us, Lord Jesus, for being busy here and there with this and that, and not spending time with you. Help us to be daily in the Word, in personal worship, in prayer, in confession, living in the light of your presence all through the day. May we trust in you so that all peace and joy and hope may overflow from our lives onto those around us, giving you growing glory. Amen.”
