By Geoffrey Spencer

Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, my beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

“A Brightness of Hope,” Choose Hope: Adult Study Guide, Herald House, p. 14, adapted

Hope brings us the conviction that there is an unfinished element to our lives. This is true whether we refer to the life of an individual, the community of faith, or the whole human family. So, as [Letty] Russell indicates, we live now “as if” those unfinished chapters of history are already shaping up to appear. Moreover, we are prompted to believe that the unfinished part is at least as significant as the part of our experience that we already know.

The past is but prologue to the future. It should be noticed here that people who have “opted” for hope function out of perspective so naturally that it is difficult for them to imagine any other way of existing. They will continue to confront the future with assurance even in the face of events and circumstances that might appear to others to be of such a magnitude as to crush or devastate the human spirit.

Prayer Phrase

“Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer” (Romans 12:12).

Deepening Roots

A tree with superficial roots will wither during drought, or severe storms may uproot it. A tree whose roots go deep is stable and draws from deep waters. Imagine yourself as a tree by a river or stream. Sense your roots extending deep into the earth in search of God’s Spirit. Reflect or pray about what you hope to find as your spirit searches for deeper identity in God.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.