Monday, March 4
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
–Hebrews 11:1
There are hundreds of Bible verses that have the word ‘hope’ in them, and an online search will uncover hundreds of examples under the keywords ‘stories of hope.’ One can discover this if they are seeking inspiration for writing a Lenten devotional based on hope! And of course, just looking for examples is an act of hope in itself.
Personifying hope is a very fitting act during the season of Lent too. When one considers the traditional practice of giving something up for Lent, they discover it is done as a reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross, and to remove something from your life that may interfere with your relationship with God. So giving up hopelessness is perfect! In itself, hope is like a kind of prayer, and as the Bible verse above indicates, hope and faith are intertwined and reliant on each other to exist. You can’t have faith without hope and vice versa.
Above all, I see hope as the answer to the question “Why bother?” It is certainly easier to live life by not going the extra mile out of love, but people do so in the hope they can make the world a better place. When one stops to hug a frightened child with Downs’ syndrome, or shovels a walk for an elderly person, they are making a statement about the value of hope in the world and seeing it as a reflection of the hope they have in God. And when one acts out of hope the ripple effect does create a more hopeful world, and the hope and faith in God grows and strengthens. –Peter Stilla
Thank you God for the hope we have in You and the hope that makes the world a more loving and happier place! Amen.