Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)

I’ll start with this picture of my parents (Grace and David Maul) outside our new church Sunday morning. It was mum’s 82nd birthday, and it’s no exaggeration to say that they love, love, loved their first visit with Wake Forest Presbyterian Church. My mum and dad attended both services (Praise and Traditional), and they were captured by the sense of excitement, anticipation, and promise all morning long.

PROMISE: As an example of great writing, I enjoy the sound and the rhythm of the Romans 5 passage. I also love the truth that’s embedded in the progression outlined in Paul’s thinking: Faith, peace, grace, glory; suffering, endurance, character, hope; hope that doesn’t disappoint, because God’s love is poured into our hearts.

Suffering is a hard word to consider here in the West, especially when we think about the quality of human oppression and misery that most of us never get close to even understanding, let alone experience. However, the challenges we all run into from day-to-day more than qualify when it comes to setting the framework for the principle that Paul is talking about. Because it’s difficult to grow in any regard if we arrange our lives to avoid being tested, stretched, pushed, or otherwise jogged out of comfort.

That’s part of what it has meant for Rebekah and me to move to North Carolina.

HOPE: I particularly like Paul’s suggestion that “character produces hope.” Character falls to us, it’s our personal responsibility; character emerges in response to the choices we make, and how we use the gifts we’ve been entrusted with.

So I appreciate the partnership that is implied between me and God. My character has an impact on how hope plays out; your character effects the way hope works. We’re talking about promise as a result of our participation in God’s great plans and purposes; promise is the future we move toward together, God and I.

That’s the kind of week I pray for each one of you. A Monday-Friday loaded with promise. A week-long hope-fest. A progression from challenge to hope that is predicated on a relationship between the created and the Creator.

– Derek (a prisoner of hope)