hope is every sunrise displacing, dispelling the darkness, revealing that the darkness was only temporary all along,

hope is the rainbow after the storm, the spark that lights the fire, the eagle in flight, the oasis in the desert, the lone candle burning in the dark

hope is eggs in a bird’s nest, seeds in the ground, every star in the sky, every caterpillar’s cocoon, every spring flower and every budding tree

hope leaves baby teeth under a pillow, leaves cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer, hope hangs stockings and hunts for easter eggs

hope blows out candles on a birthday cake or the white fluff on a dandelion while making a wish, hope looks for four leaf clovers, falling stars and buried treasure

hope gets down on one knee and proposes possibilities and promises

hope plants seeds in the earth, hope waters them, watches over them – hope expects a harvest and waits patiently for it

hope extends an invitation believing someone will accept it, hope reaches out a hand believing there is someone out there who will reach back and hold it

in the flood hope believes the rain will stop, in the drought hope believes the rain will start

hope endures the fog, knowing it will lift, revealing the path ahead once again

hope continually casts a net, believing it will fill with fish

hope waits in eager expectation for the dough to rise, the bread to bake, for the mountain to move, for the mustard seed to grow

hope believes broken hearts can be healed, ruined lives can be restored and wrecked relationships reconciled

hope conquers fears, hope dares to dream dreams, hope believes for the best even while surrounded by the worst

hope remembers the Red Sea parted, water sprang from a rock, manna fell from the sky, barren women bore children, impenetrable, insurmountable walls fell down, the blind were given sight, the paralytic walked, the lepers were cleansed, five thousand were fed, the lost were found, sinners were forgiven and the dead brought back to life again

hope knows this –

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’ ” (Matthew 19:26)

hope believes this –

“weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

hope prays, knowing God is listening, sure that prayer matters, makes a difference

hope prays without ceasing, knowing prayer moves mountains  

hope holds on when the end is not in sight, hope sees beyond what is visible to what is possible

hope walks by faith and not by sight

hope whispers in the wind, portending of better things to come – hope is the unheard melody of the heart – hope is the Good News of the Gospel

hope is a glimmer, a flicker, a flash illuminating the darkness – hope is the voice of one crying in the wilderness – “your Deliverer is coming!”

hope leaves its home, like Abraham, believing there is something better waiting

hope is the lighthouse on the distant shore, the light at the end of the tunnel, the guiding light of the Star of Bethlehem

hope is songs in the night, calm in the storm, freedom in the furnace and courage in the lion’s den

hope is a teenage Jewish girl, forced into hiding by human evil, who nevertheless wrote these words in her diary –

“In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart. I simply can’t build up my hopes on a foundation consisting of confusion, misery and death. I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness, I hear the ever approaching thunder, which will destroy us too, I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come right, that this cruelty too will end, and that peace and tranquility will return again.”

hope is a man who lost everything saying –

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes – I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19:25-27)

hope is a baby in a manger, hope is a blood stained cross, an empty tomb, a risen Savior, an eternal advocate, the promise of paradise, a home in heaven

hope says with the psalmist –

“I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:13-14)

hope waits, hope believes, hope endures, hope sustains during tough times, hope lives

hope lives because Jesus lives and reigns and is faithful to all His promises – Jesus said,

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

with every heartbeat hope proclaims – “He is risen! Hope reigns!”

sincerely, Grace Day