This devotional on hope is for anyone who feels hopeless: hope is not something you manufacture, but a gift from the God of hope. Paul prays, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing” (Romans 15:13, ESV). Turn to him honestly today and ask him to refill what has run dry.
Key Verse
“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, ESV)
When Hope Runs Thin
There are seasons when hope feels like something other people have. The diagnosis does not change. The prayer seems unanswered. The job search drags on. You keep showing up, but expecting good things started to feel naive.
Romans 15:13 begins not with a command but with a name: the God of hope. Hope is first a person we look to, not a feeling we work up. When we search for hope inside our circumstances, we are often disappointed, because circumstances shift. The God who brought Israel out of Egypt and Jesus out of the grave is not stumped by what you face.
Filled by the God of Hope
Paul prays that God will fill you with all joy and peace in believing. Hope comes in believing, in the daily and sometimes trembling act of trusting God. Joy and peace are not prizes for people whose lives are going well; they are poured into people who keep trusting.
So that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. To abound is to overflow, and it happens by the Spirit’s power, not yours. On days you have nothing left, the Spirit is still at work, quietly refilling what has run dry.
Hope With an Anchor
Christian hope is not wishful thinking. When we say we hope it does not rain, we mean we are not sure. Biblical hope is confident expectation rooted in what God has done. Because Jesus rose, death does not get the last word. Because he promised to return, this broken world is not the end of the story.
If hopelessness has settled in for a long time, or you have thoughts of harming yourself, please tell someone you trust and reach out to a counselor or pastor. In the US, call or text 988 any time.
Today, Try This
Write Romans 15:13 on a sticky note and put it where you will see it often today. Each time, pray it back to God: “Fill me with joy and peace as I trust you.”
Reflection Question
Where have you been looking for hope in your circumstances instead of in the God of hope?
Prayer
God of hope, you see the places where hope has grown thin. Fill me again with joy and peace as I trust you. By the power of your Holy Spirit, let hope overflow in me and spill onto others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Romans 15:13 mean?
Romans 15:13 (ESV) is Paul’s prayer that God, the source of hope, would fill believers with joy and peace as they trust him, so that the Holy Spirit makes their hope overflow. Hope is presented as God’s gift through faith, not something we produce by effort.
What does the Bible say about feeling hopeless?
Scripture is honest about despair; psalms of lament like Psalm 13 and Psalm 42 voice it openly. But the Bible points to God as the God of hope (Romans 15:13, ESV), whose faithfulness and the resurrection of Jesus give hope that does not depend on circumstances.
What is the difference between biblical hope and wishful thinking?
Wishful thinking is uncertain wanting. Biblical hope is confident expectation grounded in God’s character and promises, especially Jesus’ resurrection. Romans 15:13 (ESV) ties hope to believing God and to the Holy Spirit’s power, which is why it can remain steady when circumstances shift.
Keep Reading
- Explore more: devotionals for hard times
- Read more daily devotionals
- Start here: what the narrow gate means (Matthew 7:13-14)
- Related: our devotional: Living Hope Devotional
- Related: our devotional: Devotional on Suffering
- Related: Devotional on Faith (devotional)
- Bible Verses by Topic