Hope in a Hurting World

Introduction

Chris Blue-”Master, The Tempest is Raging”-Song

"I heard a story recently about a man who was stranded on a deserted island for years. One day, he was finally rescued. As the rescuers looked around the island, they saw three small huts.

They asked, ‘What are those huts?’

The man said, ‘The first one is my house.’

‘What about the second?’ ‘That’s my church.’

‘And the third?’ The man looked down and said, ‘Oh… that’s the church I used to go to.’

Even alone on an island, we can find something to be disappointed about!”

(pause for laughter)

We chuckle at that because life is full of its stress and strains, disappointments and downright troubling circumstances. There are times that relationships are fractured, financial blunders, and dreams just downright dissipate. We truly are fragile individuals aren’t we.

Easter, we celebrated the hope of life in Jesus. Jesus came that “we may have life and life more abundantly.” And, He came that we might have life in the hereafter, “I go and prepare a place for you.” If we are not careful, we can think of Jesus as our hope in the abstract, but He is oh so much more. He is our hope in the day in day out.

But, the reality is in the pragmatic, the day in day out there are times we need hope yesterday. Hope that sustains us and carries us through the day, the hours, the very moments at times.

People everywhere ask: “Where is hope when life hurts.”

Our topic today is hope.

Barack Obama

“Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us.”

Winston Churchill

“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty.”

Augustine of Hippo

“Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are Anger and Courage — anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain as they are.”

The good news this morning is that the Bible offers an even better thought about Hope. Hope is more that some pep talk or motivational pick me up-real hope is rooted in a real Savior, a real God that does what He says He will do and loves you.

Paul prays in our text this morning that we would overflow with hope in this hurting world.

Turn in your Bibles this morning to: Romans 15:13 or look on the screen.

Romans 15:13 NKJV

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Message

Though separated by two thousand years, the believers in the church at Rome faced many of the same struggles we face today. They were navigating cultural conflict as Jewish and Gentile Christians attempted to get along. They ideally wanted to migrate together as they experienced clash over traditions, dietary choices, and the days they chose to worship. They were confused as to how living out their faith appeared while desiring to walk faithfully under Roman pressure as an unbelieving empire.

As the Jewish believers infiltrated the church, the Gentiles were faced with new pressures based upon the Jews former religious practices and convictions. Both Jew and Gentile were questioning their actions as to what was right and what was wrong by the influence of traditions of both groups. At the same time both parties wanted to have an acceptable attitude and be acceptable of the other group, but at the same time yield to the highest power of God.

This early new road as a Christian came with its questions, its struggles and its stresses. They wanted to live faithfully before the Lord and they wanted to “love their neighbor as themselves,” but at times it was hard.

Combined all that with the external struggles of the day, political tensions of living under Roman rule and the uncertainty of a growing but persecuted church — and you begin to see that the early Christians carried stress, division, and doubt just like we do.

Today, we’re not that different. The church still wrestles with cultural confusion. Do we hold to our traditions and stick to patterns of worship that satisfy us that we find pleasing or do we compromise our own styles of worship to meet the new generational desires of worship that satisfy the younger generations?

There are greater divisions over doctrine today.

Oh my goodness, may we never compromise doctrine today as some of our denominational brothers have done that we be more politically correct in this changing world.

People today are emotionally fatigued. Today, it is common to be more socially peeled back. When I say socially peeled back I mean that it is common to allow the outside world into the family social dynamic through social media avenues. In turn, supposed friends think they have license to berate some action all across social media and embarrass and humiliate others to their friends. This brings on such anxiety and pain.

Furthermore, news is available 24/7/365. The start realities of the state of our world is in our face all day-pop ups on our phone. The news brings fear over financial uncertainty & world power’s testiness and the lists go on.

Our aim is that our lives would be planned, methodical, structured and without surprise. That is not life is it? As long as we live in this fallen world, there will be issues we face on almost a daily basis that will create the potential for headaches. How do we maintain a hope in times we feel helpless and we are in this hurting world?

I remind you those believers in Rome had the same questions we do today: How do we stay united in a divided world? Where is God when life gets hard? Can hope really survive in times like these? And into that world — both theirs and ours — Paul prays a powerful, Spirit-filled prayer in Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you…” Not a shallow sentiment, but a deep, overflowing hope grounded in who God is. That’s where we turn today — to a hope big enough to hold us in a hurting world.

So as we open our Bibles to Romans 15:13, we’re not just reading a beautiful blessing — we’re stepping into a bold prayer spoken over a burdened church. Paul doesn’t point them to politics, comfort, or clearer circumstances. He points them upward — to the God of hope.

That leads us to the first truth we need to hold onto today:

1. The Source of Hope – “May the God of hope…” (Rom. 15:13)

Notice that Paul doesn’t begin this prayer by focusing on the people, their pain, addressing the Romans or the political scene. He starts by pointing them to God-specifically “the God of Hope.”

Look closely at Paul’s words. We have to read them as they are. We do not find hope in God, God is hope. Hope is His nature. If hope were removed from God’s nature, He would not be the God revealed in His Word.

What kind of hope are we referring to this morning? The hope of the Bible is not simply “wishful thinking”-like saying I wish it would rain, or I wish we had a packed house in attendance today.

What does hope of the Bible mean?

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 1680. ἐλπίς

1680. ἐλπίς

Do you trust God? Do you trust God’s Word? Do you trust His promises?

I heard something from Dr. J. D. Graaer that I had never considered. He said something and I am stealing his thunder from tonight, our last in his Easter series we will cover at 5:00 pm.

Everyone of the apostles to the exception of one, John the Beloved died a martyr’s death by tradition and early church sources. When you read 1 Corinthians 15 and am reminded that five hundred different people saw Jesus post the Resurrection. The apostles were named as having seen Jesus after the resurrection. We also know that Jesus went to find the apostles and confront Thomas in John 20.

Why do I bring that up? These men lived out the early church being persecuted. They saw what happened to Jesus. And yet, because they saw, touched and ate with the Risen Savior post the resurrection, nothing they faced in the days ahead as they served their Lord held any fear over them. The final outcomes had no bearing because they saw firsthand that Jesus was alive and that every promise He made He kept. They knew they would also live.

Do you have that kind of assurance?

Hope isn’t wishful thinking; it is rooted in God’s nature.

Illustration: Garrett’s older brother Aaron is the only person I know that has an all electric vehicle. He has a Tesla. I have heard a great deal about his car. Firstly, there is no indirect power. Power transfers directly to the axle so speed is incomprehensible as it relates to conventional cars that transfer power from engine to transmission to axle, etc. Furthermore, the battery weight causes the car to hug the road. As I understand, they have a 300 mile range and then they have to be charged for 3 hours. The car is totally out of commission if it does not have a charge.

God is our power source for us to remain hopeful regardless what life presents to us.

Hebrews 6:19 “19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,”

Oh dear church, it is in that type hope that we are anchored against the throws of this life that attempt to knock us off course and defeat us.

We think of this blanket of hope that the Lord covers us with. But listen more specifically just a few verses before.

I can be like James. I want practical. Lord, tell me how you are going to give me hope?

Perseverance and Encouragement and Conformance to the Conditions

Romans 15:5 “5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,”

2. The Strength of Hope – “Filled with all joy and peace in believing…”

Paul’s prayer continues like this:

“May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.”

Joy and Peace are the twins Marks of Hope

Joy

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 5479. χαρά

5479. χαρά chara- cheerfulness, calm delight:—gladness, × greatly, (× be exceeding) joy (-ful, -fully, -fulness, -ous).

We’ve discussed this before but Joy is not happiness. By the word happiness’ very definition, happiness depends on the happenings of the day. There will be days, hours, or even moments in a day that the happenings will not be favorable.

Joy on the other hand again, is rooted not in the happenings of life, but in our hope in the Lord.

For you see joy, is rooted in who God is.

Peace

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 1515. εἰρήνη

1515. εἰρήνη ĕirēnē, i-ray´. prosperity:—one, peace, quietness, tranquility, rest

Peace is not the absence of conflict; its the presence of Christ in the conflict.

What I’m discussing is not surface-level cheer-it’s soul level strength that sustains us when life gets hard.

John 16:33 “33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.””

Hope brings emotional and spiritual stability, even in chaos.

Jesus did not promise us an escape from the trails we face, but He promised us His presence as we face them. That is where joy and peace are found.

Illustration: Paul and Silas in Prison (Acts 16:23–25)

Acts 16:23–25 NASB95

23 When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; 24 and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

Beaten. Bleeding. Chained in a dungeon.

What did they do? They sang.

That wasn’t denial — that was joy and peace in believing.

Their hope didn’t come from the chains coming off — it came from trusting that God was still in control, even with the chains on.

Romans 5:1–2 “1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”

Psalm 16:11 “11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.”

Application: Joy and peace don’t come from control, but trust.

Are you filled with joy and peace — or just trying to keep it together?

Where are you placing your belief: in God’s promises, or your plans, your power, your prowess?

Do your circumstances determine your peace, or does your Savior?

When we choose to believe — not just in our heads, but in our hearts — God fills us with stability that doesn’t shake.

Listen church, let’s look past our feelings and choose faith. Faith is the doorway through which joy and peace enter the soul.

3. The Spread of Hope – “…so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”

Paul prayed not just for survival, not just a sufficiency, not for just enough, but for overflow, and abundance of hope. God doesn’t want to give you just enough hope to get by. He wants to fill you so completely that it spills out into the lives of others.

Ill. Making a breakfast Smoothie-Nutrabullets

Overflowing Hope — More Than Enough

Why does God want us to overflow with hope?

Because the world is watching. How you and I respond to the struggles of this life is a testimony to others about the God we serve. Do we really trust that He is in control?

Your family, coworkers, and neighbors need to see a hope-filled believer.

The most powerful witness in a dark world is a Christian who walks with hope — even when they’re walking through hardship.

Listen families and you know who I’m speaking to. There are several families in our church going through some scary times. This is your finest hour to be a testimony to the hope you have in Christ Jesus that you love and serve.

Illustration: Think about that smoothie I made this morning

When I overfilled the canister and there was only one way to go, it sprayed out. It sprayed on everything around it.

That’s what God wants to do with hope in your life — not to suppress it, but spray your hope on everyone you come in contact with.

People around you may not read the Bible — but they read your life. You are the Word made alive in others. When they see peace in your pressure and joy in your trial, they’ll want to know where your hope comes from.

Supporting Scripture:

1 Peter 1:3 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”

Matthew 5:16 “16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Colossians 1:27 “27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Are you living in survival mode — or overflow mode?

Does your life reflect the kind of hope others are thirsty for?

When people see your response to hardship, do they see a person who believes the resurrection is real?

The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now lives in you (Rom. 8:11)

Romans 8:11 “11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

-not physical life only, but zoe-spiritual life, vitality, optimism, strength, steadfastness, perseverance, joy, peace, and the list goes on. Your life will be a ray of sunshine in a dark world.

That’s resurrection power — and it’s more than enough to overflow with hope.

Let’s make application this morning in our time together.

As yourself this question. Where can I let my light shine of hope this week?

On the phone with a hurting person? Is there someone in the hospital or nursing home that needs a beam of hope shined on them?

Can you shine this week regardless of the health circumstances you face? Maybe God is calling you to bring light to a friend who lost a loved one? Hope is not just for you and to propel you onward — it’s to project to others so that they might feel the rays of Son shine in their lives.

We’ve seen today that hope isn’t something we manufacture — it’s something we receive. It begins with God as the source. It strengthens us with joy and peace through faith. And it’s meant to overflow — to reach a hurting world that desperately needs to see the light of Christ.

But maybe today, you're sitting here and your tank feels empty. You’re not overflowing with hope — you’re just trying to hold it together. The pressures of life, the uncertainties of tomorrow, the pain of your past — they’ve taken a toll. Can I tell you something straight from the heart of Scripture?

There is still hope. Because there is still God. And He is the God of hope.

Romans 15:13 is not just Paul’s prayer for the church at Rome — it’s God’s invitation to you today.

Responding to the God of Hope

To the one who feels broken:

Come to the altar. Let the God of hope begin to refill your heart.

To the believer running on empty:

Come renew your joy and peace in believing. He wants to fill you again.

To the one who’s never trusted Christ:

Friend, real hope begins with a real relationship with Jesus. He lived, died, and rose again so that you could have a living hope — not just for eternity, but for every day until then. Would you place your faith in Him today?

Let’s pray:

"Lord, we come to You — the God of hope. Fill every heart in this place with joy and peace as we choose to believe. Overflow our lives with hope that shines in the darkness and points others to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen."