Hope: Not Uncertain, but Certain

In an intersection of sermons from church and the book of Romans which I am reading through currently in New Testament Survey, I have come across Romans 5:1-5. This is not something new to me, it's scripture that I consistently confide and depend on as a promise from God.
It reads:

Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our LORD Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
- Romans 5:1-5

This scripture is extremely powerful; particularly, verse 5 which reads "This hope will not disappoint...". I consistently find myself encouraging people, praying for people, hoping for people, expectant that their upcoming and current life circumstances will be recognized as blessing and that God will be given the glory. Often I might say, "I hope your interview goes well." or "Hope you have a great day."... these words become cliche and are received lacking a real heartfelt backing. This is nothing intentional from me, or from others who convey these phrases. The truth very well might be that deep inside I truly hope that specific event will be blessed, great, joyful, but that is not always how it comes across.

That brings me back to this scripture because it is so unique. You see... Paul makes the very powerful statement of "This hope will NOT disappoint...", why? "... because God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Paul is talking here about having access to grace through Jesus Christ. He's talking about our hope for glory in Heaven with our LORD. He's talking about hoping that our life is not in vein!

One can adamantly say "I hope my life will not be lived in vein." But, Paul makes the valid point here, that the only hope that holds its own is that founded on faith through Jesus Christ. In order for a life to not be lived in Vein, we need the deposit of the Holy Spirit, that we have been declared righteous by faith. Now, we don't only have hope those aforementioned, but through Christ, we find hope in afflictions. Paul makes it clear as day that affliction happens do produce endurance, and endurance produces proven character. Why? Because our character, lived out in affliction, declares the power of hope in Jesus Christ our LORD. ...or maybe our character isn't declaring what we want it to?

There's a bit of a paradox that takes place here. Often the things that we might hope for are those which are non-afflicting. "I hope your interview goes well", "I hope you have a great day". This is rugged, because we have learned that the hope produced by faith in Christ can actually produces affliction in our life to the Glory of God. So there are two kinds of hope: Hope by faith in Christ, which Biblically defined produces proven character through affliction for the glory of God. And worldly hope, a somewhat cliche phrase that has good intention behind it but lacks the promise that comes from God, sealed by the Holy Spirit.

It's good to hope for people's benefit, but as I reflect on my 'hopings', ultimately I know that I want their benefit to be what God desires for them to produce proven character, even though it may hurt. These can be things that are what people view as happy and joyful, but it might also lead to affliction for the end result of God's glory.

So what are you hoping for and what is your hope in?