Let’s look at another characteristic of this spiritual maturity that we should all be striving for. Remember that as we mature, we start sharing the happiness of Jesus Christ; a happiness that is INDEPENDENT of our circumstances!

One of the other real blessings you will have as you mature is a mental stability and confidence in God. This is summed up with the word hope. The Greek word translated hope is usually ELPIS. It does not mean hope like we think today, like I hope I win the lottery, but a complete confidence in something in the future, like I hope I’m going to heaven. (And I am completely confident that I will!)

Romans 8:24-25

24 For in hope we have been saved, (that means that we are confident in our future in heaven) but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? (Do you hope you’re going to wake up this morning? No, because you obviously already did!)

25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

What is it you are waiting eagerly for? When you understand what God has in store for you, that will give you the confidence to be relaxed in any and every circumstance.

When you have this hope or confidence in what is to come, you live your life with real mental stability. There is no uncertainty in day to day life, because you KNOW what the future holds for you!

1 Peter 1:13

13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope (confidence) completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:4-8

4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,

5 that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge,

6 even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you,

7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It’s a fact. Jesus Christ is coming back. How do you feel about that? Are you eagerly looking forward to it? Or are you nervous that He will be disappointed in you?

1 John 2:28

28 Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.

When you are mature, you are confident about what will happen when Jesus Christ appears. You know what He will say to you when He appears:

Matthew 25:21

21 "His master said to him, "Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'

Think about how it would feel to be confident that you are doing exactly what God wants you to do with your life. And you thought sharing the happiness of God was a blessing!