HOPE

Romans 15:13

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Another of my favorite movies is The Shawshank Redemption based on the novel by Stephen King. Despite the many tragedies throughout this prison film, the story of the two central characters ends on a note of hope and one of my favorite movie lines. “Hope is a good, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies.” The power of hope is amazing in how it can compel oneself to move through tragedy, loss, and some unimaginable circumstances. The lowest times in many of our lives happen often when we feel like we are stuck in a situation and there is little hope for improvement or gain.

We learn through Paul’s letter to the Romans that our hope comes through the Holy Spirit. It stems from a place of joy and peace from believing in the good news. Through the power of the Spirit, hope abounds around and through us. For when we see beyond ourselves and look forward to where life can be, hope drives us forward. When we live with hope, we are motivated to help make this world a more loving and kinder place.

Prayer

God of Hope, thank you for helping us believe the good news. Through the power of the Spirit, we abound in hope and look with open eyes at all the good things that God is doing in this world. Help us to embody your hope in this world and be a light for those in the darkness. Amen.