Jeremy Vuolo - The Hope We Hold: Finding Peace in the Promises of God

This is a book about hope.

Technically, yes, its our story. In the pages that follow, well share the details of our childhoods, how we met and fell in love, and our lives in Laredo and, now, California. Below the surface, weaving together every triumph and trial in our lives, is the silver thread of hope.

We dont mean hope the way its often used today. You might hope you win the lottery or get a promotion at work, or that your favorite team wins the Super Bowl (go Eagles!). That kind of hope is nothing more than wishful thinking. You wouldnt bet your soul on it.

In Christ, however, we find a different definition. Its the definition we live by, the definition that carried us through the early days of knowing each other, through a mission trip in Central America when we werent sure how the other person felt. It carried us through a long-distance relationship spanning from Springdale, Arkansas, to Laredo, Texas. It carried us through sleepless nights as new parents and a move across the country to a new home on the coast.

This hope is the reason were happily married and genuinely delight in each other. Its the reason that, while weve had plenty of disagreements, we can honestly say weve never had a fight. Its the foundation thats held us steady through the uncertain early days of our relationship and even the loss of our unborn baby. Like a diamond that sparkles and shimmers differently in sunlight and shadows, hope might not always look the same, but its still there, independent of our circumstances.

Make no mistake, were not perfect. Were sinful people like anyone else, saved by a holy God. The marriage we have today and the path we walk are rooted in our hope in the person and promise of Christ. Hes sovereign. Hes all-powerful. Hes good. Hes unchanging. Other people, even our spouse, will fail us. We will fail others despite our best intentions. But the Lord never will. Because we trust Him, we can trust that He keeps his promises. When Scripture tells us He will never leave us nor forsake us, you can take that promise to the bank. The storms of life might drag us underwater, but, like a buoy in an ocean, our hope in Christ pulls us back to the surface. This is the lens through which we view life, the lens we invite you to use as you read our story.

We find this lens in the book of 1 Peter, beginning in . The Bible has no shortage of hopeful passages, but this is one of our favorites:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by Gods power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faithmore precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by firemay be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:39 ESV )

These words are nothing short of a miracle. Even when we were trapped in the muck and mire of our sin, the Lord showed us mercynot just any mercy, but great mercy. God chose to transform us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and He didnt stop there. He promises that those who believe can look forward to an inheritance in Him. We have everything to gain in glory, and nobody can touch that or take it away.

This hope doesnt mean were protected from trials. In fact, this passage warns that we will endure grief and struggle. But even in our grief, we can be confident that our trials arent for nothing. Each trial is a fire that purifies our faith, refining us, bringing us into Gods glory. We can rest in this promise, thanking God in the trial, and even asking Him how we can glorify Him. These words are a balm to the aching soul. God is not only with you in the fire, but He promises to carry you to the other side as new creation. This is the ultimate hope that transformed our lives, thats available to all who accept it.

Were about to share with you our highest highs and our very lowest lows. Were getting vulnerable with you because we want you to see the hope of Christ woven through our story. It hasnt always looked the same. Like a diamond sparkles differently in the light and shadows, its still true, still shining, whether were on the mountaintop or deep in the valley.

This isnt a how-to guide for life or marriage. We dont pretend to have all the answers. As Peter said to the lame man in Acts 3, we have no silver or gold, but what we do have, we give to you. There is hope in Christ for every person, every marriage, every walk of life. There is an inheritance of glory, a life richer than you can imagine, if you only walk with the Lord.