The Trial of Hope

How is proven character, (dokime) and hope connected?

Romans 5:3-5 We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character (dokime) produces hope, and hope does not disappoint because God's love has been poured our into our hearts by the Holy Spirit given to us.

The word that we read in English as “proven character” (amplified bible) is not there, the greek word actually is Dokime (Greek Word number G1382), the meaning is closer to the word experiment, experience, proof, proven-ness, trustiness, a proof, a specimen of tried worth. The old King James translators rendered the word as “experience” which I like better. The word refers to a faith which has been tempered by pain, by affliction, by various trials, not a newbie faith, for trials and afflictions arise ‘for the word’s sake.


Other occurrences of Dokime

The meaning leans towards the word experience. Something that is made concrete and solid through experience. A kind intention to give is no use, unless people 'experience' the receiving of gift(2 Cor 9:13). The word is closely associated with pain and trial and conflict in the scripture, and points to something which is highly experience based in nature. People experienced the proof an experience of the power of God working in Paul life, like how we experience painful times of affliction.

The word appears 7 times in the new testament, the word brings up the meaning of people who are seeking ‘proof’ of Christ speaking through Paul (2 Cor 13:3) how timothy is a ‘proven minister’ of God, people seeking people’s great experience of suffering in the ‘trial’ of their affliction (2 Cor 8:2), the actual experience of people receiving from other’s ministry of giving (2 Cor 9:13).

If i could re-translate the key verse of Romans 5:3-5, this way: suffering produces endurance, which in the process produce the approval of God if we have a right response, through the testing of trustworthiness and further experiences of God's presence and goodness in the midst of trial, disappointment, pain and loss, which produce lasting hope, a expectation of God's goodness in the future, which does not disappoint. The process of prolonged suffering and patient faith produces 'prooven experience' of God's presence power and goodness in the midst of trial, which becomes a source of hope.


The Trial of Hope

Psalms 105:17 

he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron;
19 until what he had said came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him. 

I am increasingly convinced these days, that Hope is one of the most important things in life, not only to our faith. When people lose hope, they lose the will to live. You can get sucked into various demonic distractions if you lose your prophetic vision, your hope for your future. The big weapon that Satan employs together with accusation is dismay, discouragement and hopelessness. The bible exhorts us over and over, be courageous, do not be dismayed at the massive challenges that face us. Impossibilities, mountains, obstructions frequently attempt to dismay us, as we look at the natural circumstances. Can we continue to hope supernaturally in the face of serious and great challenges to our hope?

I think of the story of Joseph, through the long and painful trial of affliction and pain, continually hoping in God, “being tried by the word of God”. What is the trial? To destroy our hope. What then must we do? Continue to habitually place our hope in God till it becomes an automatic reaction in our heart, an automatic response to challenges and pain. I will hope in God. Why so downcast O my soul? Place your hope in God (PS 42, 43).

We live in an age where there is very little character in people. Therefore there is very little hope in the world. If there are people of Godly character, they can provide hope, by being symbols, of the overcoming of grave challenges. Nelson Mandela is a symbol of Hope, love and forgiveness. People like that inspire us to endure, when we see their testimony and witness their person, we say 'there is hope in this world.'


The Hope that God will bless us
Hebrews (6:11 onwards) speaks of hope like an anchor of the soul, which steadies us through stormy waters. Paul talks about Abraham, how Abraham was empowered to hope through 2 unchangeable things. The first being that God promised to bless and multiply him, the second being that God swore to bless him, there is a third assurance God’s character and integrity - which is God cannot lie, He is truth. Paul then connects us to these promises for the Christian who flee to Christ to hope in Him.

Hebrews 6:18-20 

18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,

In other words, we must believe like Abraham, we must believed that God wants to bless and multiply us, even as He has already promised to Abraham. For we are children of faith, Abraham seed and the same blessing on Abraham also applies to us. (Gal 3:29) And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. God wants to bless us and multiply us. He swore, He promised and He cannot lie.


Pressing in for the blessing

1Chronicles 4:10

Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!" And God granted what he asked.

Genesis 32:25,26 

When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.

26 Then he said, "Let me go, for the day has broken." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

Not a passive wish, but an active wrestling 

The habit and quality of hope in character is not passively developed. Jacob did spend all night in prayer wrestling with God with only one plea, "that You would bless me". There needs to be a continual exercise, a habit of hoping in God, in order for hope to be fully formed in the Character, in order that hope can be fully developed, until it becomes “the hope that does not disappoint, that does not put to shame.” An eternal, undying hope in God. Let us take courage and not be dismayed at massive challenges for God will surely help us if we do not lose Hope in Him that He is good and will deliver us. 

Don't pre-suppose what form the blessing will take, or how it will happen. Just press into His presence to obtain it. God will decide in His wisdom the best form and way that the blessing will occur and take place. He will surely bless His children who hope in Him