Listen:
But I will hope continually, and will praise you yet more and more. (Psalm 71:14)
Reflect:
Lately, I have noticed an enduring image of dawn in my spirit. The sun hasn’t yet come over the horizon, but the sky is starting to glow with hues of red, orange and a tinge of yellow, with the blues ranging from midnight to cobalt to azure. Dawn is usually a theoretical event for me, but a couple of weeks ago, I had start driving early to a pastor’s event. The sky gave me the gift of its glorious dawn palette of colors. It was a reminder of hope – that this new day’s sun would soon emerge on the horizon.
At the gathering, we shared our hearts to one another. Pastor after pastor grieved the hardships brought on by the pandemic and culture wars in their churches. When it was my turn, I shared the vision of dawn, that God’s goodness would emerge in new and unexpected ways, even though we can’t see it yet. I was surprised that I shared this, because I felt the same way they did.
My spirit is sensing deep hope in a seemingly impossible situation. Hope is not wishful thinking, or an optimistic attitude. Hope is grounded in God’s goodness and His promises to us of presence, help, protection and deliverance, which are all embodied in salvation. God’s salvation starts this side of eternity. Hope doesn’t necessarily understand, it just knows.
I am thankful for this consolation from God, as God reminded me that I carry hope amidst uncertainty. I am also thankful for the psalmist, reminding us of this truth.
Questions to Ponder:
How have you noticed God’s gentle reminders of hope?
How has God’s hope shaped your reality – now and over your lifetime?
Prayer of Response:
God of all hope, help us to notice the hope you have placed in our spirits. Help us to be a people of hope. Amen.
—Submitted by Libby Rutherford
Libby has been a Lifespringer for about 10 years, and is on its Executive Team. She is wife to Jay, mom to John (Te) and Sarah (Pascal), and grandmother to Malcolm, who was the cutest purple koala for Halloween this year! She has way too many chickens and has no plans to stop
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