Sure, it’s late on Friday, but I haven’t emailed for a while and why put things off any longer?
It was either earlier this year or late last year that I read a book called ‘Hope Was Here’ by Joan Bauer. It is a young adult book, fictional, that follows a period in the life of the main character, Hope. I enjoyed the book, a gift from my friend Melody, but the title is what I found myself recalling last night: Hope Was Here.
In the world that I live in, one of the things that keeps me from my wit’s end is hope. Not always a hope for something other than what is at hand. Sometimes my hope is for more the same. Hope doesn’t deny the value of the past, the present, or the future. At least it doesn’t have to. Hope is a desire, a will, a strong tower.
Yesterday I talked to three friends in need of hope. One who’s brother was having open heart surgery. One who had knee surgery. And one who had a broken collar bone that needed setting. That was one day. They were all in need of hope. Imagine all of the other people that were in need of hope. Then magnify that exponentially. I can’t even fathom the number of people without hope in this broken world.
Last night I read many verses on hope. But two verses jumped out in particular –
Romans 5:3-5 – Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
May you find yourself abounding hope… in all things. There are many people without hope, and if you and I have a little extra to share, all the better. Hope is not given so that I can hold tight to it. The Spirit gives to me so that I might share. What a blessing! Hope IS Here!