02
Nov
A watched pot never boils. This old adage promotes an unappealing idea. It tells us if we keep an eye on what we’re hoping for, our hope is hollow. But there’s another perspective.
When it comes to God’s promises, not only will the proverbial pot boil, but it will overflow with His goodness. There are countless reasons to trust Him. Some reasons come to us quickly (I’m thinking of His faithfulness, mercy and love). Other times, they surface slowly. But the highs and lows of life can also influence our expectations.
Past experiences and present challenges each have their say. As we lean in, we may hear lessons learned, pain revisited, or longings unfulfilled. But when I lean into Romans 15:13, I learn how trusting God comes with a promise.
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NLT).
Joy fills us with delight in who God is. Peace ushers in calm and reassures us of His sovereignty. Then confident hope rises. Otherwise, although God cannot fail, we may fail to grasp the wonder of His plan.
My grasp is more likely to slip when a situation sinks below my expectations, or it falls outside my control. If you’ve been there, you know disappointment can take a toll on our well-being. But disappointment doesn’t have to have the final say. (Psalm 62:5-8)
What prayer or dream-filled pot are you watching and waiting to boil? I’m thinking of my prayers for my son. At some point, my heart strained to hope each time he struggled with life. It’s been a journey of learning to release what weighs me down.
But now, I hope. I continue to pray for my son and cheer him on. And yet, my confidence is not just in his ability. I’ve learned the height of our hope can only soar as high as its source.
Since God is the Source of hope, with Him, there is always more than we can imagine — even when life feels like it is more than we can take. And yet, keeping a grasp on such faith is beyond human capacity. It only comes “through the power of the Holy Spirit.” He lives in everyone who follows Christ. (Romans 5:1-5) Through Him, we can learn to rely on God’s attributes more than we depend on our assessment of any situation. It is central to our well-being.
From measuring progress toward a goal to needing a miracle in a crisis, our hope either heightens or our heart grows weary.
Maybe the old adage about the pot never boiling is not just due to the lack of hope. Perhaps it’s due to a lack of heat. For hope is not just what we anticipate. It’s also why we anticipate it. In Psalm 23, David’s faith reached the boiling point. His reflections of God’s goodness caused his cup to run over.
“Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled” (Romans 15:4 NLT).
Ironically, this hope is never hollow because it is based on an empty tomb. Christ’s resurrection secures believers to the wonder of His redemption. (Romans 6:4) “And his name will be the hope of all the world” (Matthew 12:21 NLT). Through the power of the Holy Spirit, through the highs and lows of life, we can keep our hope knowing God keeps His promises.
PRAY: Dear God, Thank You for giving me hope and salvation through Christ. Even now, I hope __________________. Through the Holy Spirit’s power, may I overflow with confident hope. Help me learn how to rely on Your attributes, more than I depend on my assessment of any situation. Fill me with joy and peace. For in You do I place my trust. In Jesus’ name, amen.
JOY TO THE SOUL: “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled” (Romans 15:4 NLT).
Kathy Francescon
Sweet Joy, your insights, your wisdom, your encouragement, always touch my heart and my spirit. My soul is soothed…I have hope and my thoughts are at peace. Thank you, for being exactly who you are and for the comfort your words always give me. Oh you beautiful soul, may God continue to bless you as you minister to others. Our faith and hope in God is indeed necessary for our well being! Blessings for the joy and hope in that lovely feeling of well being!!
Joy
Thanks for your kind words, Kathy! God knows what we need when we need it. I’m glad you found some encouragement here!
Lucille Gaither
I am aware of the old wives’ tale that a watch pot never boils. My aunts used to tell me that all the time. But I am not a prophecy watcher. It has been said in evangelical circles that for the return of Christ to occur, there is nothing that has to take place. His coming back is imminent any day, any time. And that our time clock is the nation Israel. That I believe. One famous pastor preaches that the church has no signs. That Israel has signs. That I believe, too. Our Lord Jesus Christ attested to that in his discourse recorded in Matthew 24. He specifically answered the disciples’ questions concerning his return. No one knows when but him. “But of that day and hour, knoweth no man, no, not the angels of Heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be…” So my job is to facilitate the return of Christ. That is the lane that I stay in. And that is my joy, peace, and hope. Hope unlike the world’s hope of maybe so or it might happen but sure hope because his word tells me so. That is settled in heaven, too.
Joy
Amen Lucille! I praise God for the confident hope we can have because of Jesus!