Hope for the Hopeless

Romans 3: 21-31, (NIV)

Righteousness through Faith
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness 
of God has been made known, to which the Law 
and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is 
given through faith in[a] Jesus Christ to all who 
believe. There is no difference between Jew and 
Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of 
the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely 
by his grace through the redemption that came 
by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a 
sacrifice of atonement,[b]through the shedding 
of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this 
to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his 
forbearance he had left the sins committed 
beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to 
demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, 
so as to be just and the one who justifies those 
who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. 
Because of what law? The law that requires 
works? No, because of the law that requires 
faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified 
by faith apart from the works of the law. 29 Or is 
God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of 
Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,30 since there 
is only one God, who will justify the circumcised 
by faith and the uncircumcised through that same 
faith. 31 Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? 
Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law.

After spending some quiet time reading this scripture along with Romans chapters 1 and 2, I realized the transitions that happen throughout the text. The scripture above gives me the ultimate mindset of hope. Paul says “righteousness in given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” As a Christian and a follower of Jesus Christ, I consider my walk and journey with Him never ending and ever growing. I make mistakes and find myself falling but always being able to get back up again. Through my faith in Jesus Christ I have realized He will never leave me without hope and that is powerful beyond measure. Hope pushes us to keep going. It is a glimpse of a future we cannot see or touch but feel coming through our faith. Who more powerful and righteous to feel hope through than Jesus Christ himself? Though there are dark days and days where it may seem all hope is lost, we cannot give up our faith. When we fall into the arms of Jesus Christ we are allowing ourselves to feel the warmth of His embrace and know that we are not alone. Hope is reaching out in this scripture above.


Lauren Strain is a senior majoring in Psychology.