Paul's firm grasp on hope is admirable. He doesn't halfway commit to hope -- he is certain of God's desire and ability to finish the work that has been started. God started a good work in you, and it will be finished -- in God's time, not necessarily yours! And Paul (or God) doesn't promise that it'll always be a simple, straightforward path to reach completion -- but the good work will be completed!
Also, notice the things Paul wishes for the people. It's not related to material things -- these are fine and good, but will ultimately fade and cannot provide the eternal comfort that we desire in the depths of our hearts. Paul wishes for abounding love to go along with knowledge and discernment to do the right thing, all of this shaping us for the day of Christ. There is always one eye fixed forward on the end goal, with the other eye tracking the world around us so that we might know how best to live to prepare ourselves for it.
This day, I pray that God might remind you of the certainty of your justification, and that God might open your eyes to take in both the certainty of the Gospel hope and whatever the next step of faith for you is, be it in service or devotion or fellowship.
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