Hope Overflowing

Every year Joni and Friends prayerfully chooses a theme for our Family Retreats and other ministry events – and this year, on the 35^th anniversary of Joni and Friends, it’s “Hope Overflowing.” Romans 15:13 so beautifully expresses our desire for each special-needs family we’ll be serving: “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.” Not long ago I read a survey in which people were asked “What can you not live without?” The most frequent answer was hope. It’s clear that no one wants to live in despair. Many years ago when I was first injured, I was on the edge of suicidal despair, but precious Christian friends showed me Romans 15:13 – if I would but trust the Savior, He would fill me with His peace and overflow my heart with His hope. Could God really do such a thing?! I decided to trust Him with my quadriplegia, and now, so many years later? He has never disappointed me; after all, “… hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:5). Today if you are struggling with pain or problems, rise up to a new level of trust in Jesus.  And you, too, will experience Hope Overflowing!