Abounding in Hope
- Chelsey Dematteis
- Nov 26, 2024
- 3 min read
“To abound in hope, we must first be filled up and securely rooted in it. To be rooted in hope is to be rooted in God Himself.”
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
Hope has been the theme of my year, though it unfolded in the most unconventional way. I ended last year tired. I had nothing left inside my weary bones. I needed rest, but more than anything, I needed the hope of Jesus for all the new year would bring.
Spiritual warfare, the ending of a dear friendship, and the diagnosis which led to the death of my beloved Grampa came full force. It was as if a swell had been waiting in the ocean to crash over me. Hit, after hit, after hit. With each wave, it became harder to see a way through. I was sad, broken, spiritually tired, and one morning I cried out in hopelessness.
But, the hope of Jesus prevailed. Through tears, many prayers, and the prayers of others, my heart and my body slowly began to regain its ability to find a steadiness in Jesus. His hope became more than just an encouragement, His hope was finally seen as an action - a verb, we can call it if you will.
The hope of Jesus is what carries us, sustains us, and pulls us out of the pits. It most certainly carried me this last year. Gave me the strength to move forward. And pulled me from the pit of despair.
When we have the hope of Christ, anchored in who He is and fully trusting what He will do, His hope abounds. Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Take note of how detailed this verse is, “so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” To abound in hope, we must first be filled up and securely rooted in it. To be rooted in hope is to be rooted in God Himself.
Take root and tether yourself to the gift we’ve been given in Christ. The storms of this life can feel as if there is no way out and no way forward. Yet, with Jesus there is always a way forward and the path is lit by His hope. Walk forward faithfully, dear one.
Action steps:
Where in your life can you see that it was the hope of Jesus that carried you? Journal through this season and mark it as “evidence of hope”.
Be sure to check out the latest Motherhood Meets Faith podcast, with special guest Chelsey Dematteis. Link below!
Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of your hope. Help me see Your hope as the attribute that pulls me out of the pits and steadies my feet on solid ground. You are good and faithful. Thank You for loving me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Written by Chelsey, mom of two, abounding in hope
Did you know? Chelsey has created an advent devotional called A Thrill of Hope. A Thrill of Hope is an invitation for you to spend the Advent season reflecting on the gift we received when Jesus was born. Without Jesus’ birth, true everlasting peace wouldn’t have been possible, and our hope wouldn’t have been secured. The life of Jesus in the flesh made a way for us to live with the hope of all that is to come while we journey through the joys and trenches of our life on this side of heaven. Get your copy HERE!
To read more devotionals like this one, or to sign up to receive them in your inbox, click HERE.
To listen to our podcast episode "Considering Jesus: Finding Hope and Contentment in This Season of Advent", Click HERE.