By Eleanor St. Clair, archived

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever.

There are times when keeping hope alive does not come easily! People in the position where hope is the only help they have left often find themselves in a life-and-death struggle to keep hope alive! I can say that with assurance, because I have walked the fine line between “it’s hopeless, I quit” and “I keep hoping.” It was hope, not only from the Holy Spirit, but also from my family, friends, and prayer partners, that kept the flame of hope alive in me. Never underestimate the Blessings of Community.

A dear friend and colleague first turned me on to the need to keep hope alive. Yet as I visited with him recently, I sensed his hope slowly slipping away. At first I felt helpless, and for me there’s nothing worse—especially when it’s someone or something close to me. But as helplessness began to darken around me, the Holy Spirit reminded me I am not helpless. “You can pray,” the Spirit impressed on me.

One of the most helpful scriptures from which we can draw not only hope but a host of blessings and gifts is 2 Corinthians 4:7–10, paraphrased here: We have this treasure from God, but we are like clay jars that hold the treasure. This shows the great power is from God, not from us. We have troubles all around us, but they do not defeat us. We do not know what to do, but we do not give up the hope of living.

I am not sure what Paul had in mind when he used the word treasure. Over the course of my life, it has come to mean hope, faith, love, forgiveness, joy, and peace. (I’m sure you could add to the list from your own experience.) Sometimes God has given these to me one at a time, and other times in groups. Keeping hope alive at times may be tough for us, but it’s never tough for God.

One last thought… sometimes we must break the clay jar to release the treasure!

Prayer Phrase

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

Hope in the Present

Take a moment to pause and reflect on where hope is present in your life. Write down three things that give you hope. It could be a kind word from a friend, the warmth of the sun, or progress toward a goal. If you are facing difficulties, gently remind yourself: “Even now, hope is present. Even now, something new is possible.” Express gratitude for this hope knowing that each day is an opportunity for renewal.

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.