The beginning
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
- 2 Corinthians 4:13
This is where I find my journey has a marked beginning. A place where I can say I have begun to move. I have reached a place where a lot of the things I loved have vanished, things I liked, I lost, people I cared for...moved on. I’m coming to the conclusion that I am about to experience hope like I never have before.
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
- Romans 8:24-25
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
- 2 Corinthians 4:18
These things, these places, these people...no matter how solid they seem or reliable they look, they are temporary and will fade with time. Anything we can touch, anything we can see...it’ll all be gone one day. Our hope comes from those things we can’t see and can’t touch. Those are the true riches of heaven. Love, long suffering, patience, forgiveness, faith, purity...These are things that cannot be seen with the eyes or touched with the body but understood in the mind and discerned in the spirit. The things the world today is sorely lacking, the light that the people need.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
- Hebrews 11:1
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
- 2 Corinthians 5:7
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
- 1 John 3:2
The evidence of hope is now faith. We are the sons and daughters of God, NOT THROUGH WORKS, but by faith. We receive access to the inheritance of God by believing and we are allowed to believe it EVEN BEFORE WE SEE EVIDENCE OF IT.
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
- Colossians 1:27
Our faith in God works Christ in us which is the hope of glory, God plan to use his people restore that same faith and hope in others that they might turn to Him If we receive the Spirit of Adoption by faith, we become the sons and daughters of the living God with the ability to be fathered and led by Him.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
- Romans 15:13
In my suffering, though not extreme, I have learned how these things are working together for me. This is the altar at which I move forward, trusting God to do His works as I follow Him. In that..I need not worry. In that, I can happily rest easy.