"I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit." (NCV)
What is God saying?
God gives gives hope, joy, and peace to people who trust Him - so much so that they are unable to contain their hope.
What is God saying to us today?
Most people recognize that religion gives people hope. Detractors think that it's a false hope, but even they recognize that believers have a hope that non-believers do not have. Hope truly is our greatest strength. It enables us to face obstacles that we'd otherwise avoid; to keep going when we'd otherwise quit; to take risks when we'd otherwise play it safe - or not play at all. And the good news is God doesn't just give us so much hope that it just overflows from our lives and into the lives of others. In case that wasn't good enough, God also fills us with joy and peace, so that even in the midst of our problems, we can be blessed when we place our trust in Him.
What is God inviting us to do?
In whom or what do you place your trust? God invites us to trust Him and He promises to fill us with all the joy, peace, and hope we can handle!