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Hope, Joy, and Peace: The Call of the Church to Walk in Them

Writer's picture: Nate OlsonNate Olson


Hope, joy, and peace are not mere sentiments but anchors for the Christian life, intertwined in a threefold cord by the Spirit of God. They are not circumstantial but eternal gifts, rooted in the promises of Scripture, which make triumph equally serviceable with trial to the believer. The church is called not only to receive such gifts but to walk in them and thus reflect God's glory in a world in agony for redemption.


Hope: An Anchor Sure


Hope is a root of faith, expecting what God has promised. It is not a wish but an expectation, as Paul affirms: "Hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:5). Hope carries us through even when the valleys in our lives are dark. Abraham did this very thing-hoping God for descendants when his circumstances seemed hopeless (Romans 4:18-21).


Hope, for the church, is anything but passive. It is an anchor that holds us fast during storms, forcing us to look beyond present struggles to the glory yet to be revealed. Using the words of Paul again, "For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all" (Romans 8:24). It is this very hope that gives impetus to the church's mission-to proclaim the gospel of Christ in word and deed.


Joy: Strength in the Lord


Joy, the fruit of hope fulfilled, runs deeper than happiness. It is the song of the redeemed, rising above life's sorrows. As Nehemiah reminded the people of God, "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10), referring, of course, to God's presence and His Word as the wellspring of joy. Joy, in its real sense, is lasting; it is not based on temporary pleasures but on the knowledge of salvation.


Peter himself described this as "an inexpressible and glorious joy" of those who love Christ and believe in Him (1 Peter 1:8-9). The Church is called even in the trials to rejoice since from perseverance comes character and, finally, hope (Romans 5:3-4). Joy characterizes the people of God, which points all around them to the Light of Christ.


Peace: The Gift of Christ


Peace is the still small voice that reminds us God is in control. It is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Christ. Jesus, Himself, promised, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives" (John 14:27). His peace surpasses understanding, guarding our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7).


Isaiah prophesied this peace in the coming of the Messiah, naming Him the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). It is through His sacrifice that Christ reconciled us to God, thus bringing true peace to our souls. The church is called to live in peacemaking, reflecting the harmony of God's kingdom here on earth as recorded in Matthew 5:9.


Walking Together in Hope, Joy, and Peace


The church, being the body of Christ, is called to be a manifestation of these gifts. Paul's prayer in Romans 15:13 is at once a blessing and a charge: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." To walk in hope, joy, and peace is to live in the Spirit, allowing these fruits to overflow into a world desperate for them.


It is a calling not just individual but corporate: the church is to be a beacon of hope, a community of joy, a harbor of peace. We are called to sow these gifts in our interactions, our ministries, and our witness, showing the world the transforming power of Christ. As Isaiah proclaimed, "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you" (Isaiah 55:12).


Let us, as God's people, walk in hope, joy, and peace-not some abstract perceptions but as real things. We proclaim the gospel by our words, but above all, with our lives, which reflect the goodness of our Savior and always point to the eternal hope in Him.

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