The Joy of the Hidden Hope: Day 29 of Joy
He is your hope.
God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. —Colossians 1:27
So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
—Colossians 3:1-3
It is easy to misplace our hope. We naturally tie it to our earthly expectations, but when we put our security in these things, we find ourselves constantly burdened by disappointment. When earthly plans fail, our joy vanishes, leaving us feeling spiritually stranded under the weight of unmet expectations.
In today’s passage, Paul shifts our gaze from what is changing around us to what is secure within us. He pulls back the curtain on a glorious mystery: Christ in you, the hope of glory. Your true life is no longer vulnerable to the chaos of this world; it is safely “hidden with Christ in God.”
Your hope is not a wishful thought or a positive outlook; it is a Person. If you believe in Jesus for eternal life, you have been raised with Christ, and your true identity and eternal future are already seated at the right hand of God. Your soul’s security is locked away in the safest place in the universe, out of reach from the trials of this life.
The 90/10 Rule of Higher Perspective
[read this article to learn more about the 90/10 rule]
The 10%: The earthly things, the temporary setbacks, and the daily frustrations that try to drag your mind downward.
The 90%: The reality of “Christ in you.” The fact that your real life is currently hidden, protected, and secured in the heavens with Him.
If you focus on the 10 percent, you will live a life of constant emotional whiplash. When you give the 90 percent of your attention to the fact that He is your hope, your joy finds an immovable anchor. You stop looking horizontally for validation and start looking vertically for your strength.
Identify one earthly concern that has been dominating your thought life this week. Intentionally practice the command to “set your mind on things above.” Picture that problem falling away as you lift your eyes to the One who lives inside you. Say out loud: “My life is hidden with Christ, and He is my hope.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I praise You because You are my ultimate hope. Thank You for the mystery of Your presence living inside me and for hiding my life safely in God. Today, I lift my gaze to where You are seated, resting in the absolute certainty of Your eternal glory. Amen.
View all messages in the series at: www.faithsaves.us/t/joy-series-faith-saves-us