The HOPEY Spirit

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Romans 5: 3-4

As my relationship with God grows, I am continuously in awe of His wonderous ways. God is so magnificent that His power lives in three persons. That’s a lot of person power! There was a time when I struggled to understand our Triune God: The God who created us, The God who saved us, and The God who lives in us. While I’m still learning, this understanding gets easier each day as He shows me in little (and not so little) ways how amazing His wisdom, love, and HOPE are through His HOPEY (Holy) Spirit.

God created ALL things from the stars in the sky to the creatures that live so deep in the sea starlight can’t reach them. He could have stopped with the sea creatures and the stars, admiring the diverse scenery He created while lounging on His throne. They would have been a lot less problematic. But He didn’t. He created humans in His image (stated four times in Genesis 1:26-27) and gifted us with free will. While we are beautifully made in His image, we are “works in progress” because of free will. While we are beautiful, our behavior can be ugly.

The world is full of anger, jealousy, bitterness, hopelessness, and sin. We are in a constant state of decision-making that leads us down one path or another. Paths paved with or without HOPE. God knew we were going to be tempted and struggle with sin. He knew we would fall and fail countless times. He knew we would need a person who would be His messenger and our helper; supporting us, guiding us, and picking us up when we fall. God loves us so much that He created us in His image, saved us to live with Him in eternity, and comforts us with His HOPEY Spirit. He loves us, protects us, and provides for us as a Father, a Son, and a Spirit.

God’s protection, provision, and love represent a trifecta of HOPE, welcoming us into His open arms. He yearns to have a relationship with each one of us… a personal relationship that’s as unique as He created us. God is love and He yearns to have a loving and deeply distinct relationship with each of us. While religion is important, it’s less about a religion and more about a relationship. So, if our religion diminishes our relationship with God, we must search for a different religion, one that strengthens this relationship instead of diminishing it.

His Word and Spirit ensure our relationship with God is grounded in love and HOPE. Every moment of every day, His HOPEY Spirit guides our decisions, shows us His love, and offers us His HOPE. His indwelling Spirit is our direct line to the Big Guy where we can talk to Him in prayer and the reading of His Word. Think of it as having God’s personal cell number where you can reach Him 24/7… 365. Yes, the Creator of the Universe always answers our calls.  

Our life is a journey where we experience trials, storms, and situations that mold our transformation into Him, refining us like gold. Trials and pain strengthen our faith, filtering out our impurities and writing our story to be shared with others. God weaves HOPE into our pain so we can offer HOPE to those around us; transforming us into His likeness so that others see Him in us. Our relationship with Him, through our journey of falls and failures, transforms us into treasures that are more precious than gold.

Through God, our lives have a golden story. Just like gold, our faith is tested (heated) to filter out impurities within our spirit. Each day is a “shopportunity” to filter out sin and grow our relationship with Him while ministering to others in need. His HOPEY Spirit guides our steps, focuses our mind, and brings peace and HOPE to our soul. Each day, minute, and moment we allow His Spirit to guide us, we filter out sin and sadness until others see Him in us. Just as gold is perfected when a goldsmith can see his reflection within the molten gold, others see Jesus reflected in us as our faith grows and purifies. We shine His light in a dark world just as a goldsmith’s reflection shines within gold’s purest form.

The Father’s love, Jesus’ sacrifice, and The HOPEY Spirit’s wisdom enable us to reach a golden purity that lasts for eternity. Each of us can have a unique relationship with God, formed by our unique life’s journey. While our relationships and journeys will be personal and distinct, believers in Jesus share the same reflection, a reflection of our beautiful God who loves us eternally through Jesus’ sacrificial heart and His Spirit’s personal and permanent attachment to our soul. This triune relationship is one built on love and honed with HOPE… HOPE in Him, His Son, and His HOPEY Spirit.  

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18