The Spirit Gives Us Hope
Month 2: The God Who Keeps Promises · Walking in the Spirit
Today's Scripture
Read together: Romans 15:13 & Romans 4:18
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. — Romans 15:13
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” — Romans 4:18
Memory Verse
“Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.””— Genesis 18:14 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Exodus 36–38
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 42 of 365 — the people build the tabernacle exactly as God commanded.)The Heart of It
The Bible looks back at Abraham's long wait and says something stunning: "who, contrary to hope, in hope believed" (). When everything around him said give up, Abraham kept hoping in God. But where does that kind of hope come from? Not from gritting our teeth. Not from thinking happy thoughts. Paul tells us the source: "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" (). Real, unshakable hope is a gift. The Holy Spirit pours it into us.
This is the heart of walking in the Spirit. We are not meant to wait on God's promises by our own willpower. We are not meant to white-knuckle our way through hard seasons. The Holy Spirit lives inside every person who belongs to Jesus. And one of the things He does is keep our hope alive when our circumstances would crush it. Maybe you feel like giving up. On a prayer. On a dream. On a struggle that won't end. You can ask the Spirit to refill you with hope. Abraham's hope wasn't a personality trait. It was faith held up by God's own power. The same Spirit who carried him is offered to you and your children today.
Around the Table
The Holy Spirit helps our hearts feel hopeful and happy, even on hard days!
Let's do it: Hand on your heart: "Holy Spirit, please fill me up with hope!"
Abraham kept hoping when it looked impossible. And God's Spirit gives us that same kind of hope.
Let's talk: When something feels hopeless, who can we ask to fill our hearts with hope again?
The Bible says we "abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." So real hope is Spirit-powered, not self-powered.
Let's go deeper: What is the difference between fake "positive thinking" and real hope that comes from the Holy Spirit?
💬 Conversation Starter
When you feel discouraged, what usually cheers you back up? What would it look like to ask the Holy Spirit for hope instead?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Isn't hope just wishful thinking? No. Christian hope is built on facts. God kept His promise to Abraham. And God raised Jesus from the dead. Hope grounded in things God has actually done is reasonable confidence, not a wish.
For Dad · Go Deeper
Classic Pentecostal teaching reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not only the giver of power and gifts. He is also the sustainer of hope in the long, unspectacular middle of the journey. Many fathers are quietly running on empty. They lead prayers, work, and provide, while their own hope flickers low. is your invitation. Hope is something the Spirit fills you with, not something you must generate. Don't model a stoic, self-reliant Christianity to your kids. Model dependence. Let them hear you ask the Father to fill you afresh with His Spirit (). Always choose character over hype. But a Spirit-filled home should be marked by a quiet, durable hope the world cannot explain.
Draws on: Robert Menzies, Pentecost: This Story Is Our Story.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, You are the God of hope. Fill us with Your joy and peace by Your Holy Spirit. Let our hope overflow, even when things are hard. Help us trust You the way Abraham did. In Jesus' name, amen."
My hope isn't something I work up. It is something the Holy Spirit pours in.