Hope

"The hope of the righteous brings joy..." ~Proverbs 10:28a (English Standard Version)

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:7 (English Standard Version)

"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." ~Romans 5:3-5 (English Standard Version)

"For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." ~Romans 8:24-25 (English Standard Version)

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has, of course, multiple definitions for hope (noun, verb, phrases, etc.), but the main definitions are similar and center around this: "Expectation of something desired; desire combined with expectation". Today is a day filled with lots of hope and prayers. And, yeah, that last verse about waiting with patience? Definitely not my strong suit! I cling to the God of Hope as I lay my requests, expectations, desires and anticipation in His all-powerful hands.

Whatever you are hoping for today, I pray that you will lay it at the feet of our Eternal Hope in expectation of His gracious and mighty plan. Then let His joy and peace flood you with comfort and contentedness, whatever the course ahead.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." ~Romans 15:13 (English Standard Version)

Soli Deo Gloria,
Meghan