MONDAY

Hebrews 11:1

Desmond Tutu once said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” The implication is that hope is something we have in addition to, or sometimes even in spite of, what we see or experience.

Has that been your experience with hope? Perhaps there is more. Perhaps hope is not only something we can have “in addition to” or “in spite of,” but also “because of.”

Hope is not something that simply floats freely out ahead of us. It is grounded firmly in what is at the center of who we are. The author of Hebrews touches on this in today’s passage as they describe the relationship between faith, hope, and assurance. Faith is a relational term rooted in trust in God and who God is. Faith is possible because of the way God is, as we see God revealed in Jesus. Knowing that God is like that makes it possible for us to rest in the confident assurance of God’s love for us. The fruit of that realization is hope.

All three of these are woven together in ways that are difficult to tease apart, but we experience them together when we respond to Jesus’ invitation to come and follow, and when we rest in the trust of God’s grace. As you continue to reflect on today’s passage, consider the following:

• How do you find that faith, hope, and assurance are connected in your own experience?

• If one of these feels stronger or weaker than the others, why do you think that is? What might strengthen it? • How would you describe the hopes that matter most to you at the core of who you are?

• Where would you like to be experiencing more hope, but are experiencing anxiety instead? How does this passage help you relate to those places?

• What would you like to share with God in prayer about your hopes, and about places where hope feels like it is waning?

Take a few moments to share with God in prayer. Be honest about your hopes, and also make space to rest in grace as you pray.