Romans 15:13 (KJV)

What does this mean?

Paul is finishing his letter to the Romans, a church split between Jewish and Gentile believers who struggle to get along. He prays that God, whom he calls the source of hope, would fill them with joy and peace as they trust him, so that their hope overflows by the power of the Holy Spirit. The prayer is for the whole church together, not just for individuals.

What does this teach us?

Hope is not something you manufacture. It is what fills you when you trust God, and it overflows by the Spirit's power, which means the cure for hopelessness is not trying harder, but trusting deeper.

How can we apply this?

If hope feels low today, do not scold yourself for it, turn to God and ask him to fill you again. Read one promise, pray one honest prayer, and then do one hopeful thing: encourage someone, make a plan, take a step forward.

Related KJV passages

• “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

  Romans 15:4

• “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;”

  Hebrews 6:19

• “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

  Psalm 16:11