Theme for 2024: Abound in Hope
On our Christmas card last year, we included Romans 15:13. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (NKJV, emphasis added).
Our God is a God of hope. What a marvelous thought! This short list of “hope” stories from the Bible come to mind when I think of ways God has provided a lifeline of hope to people in the past.
- Noah: A dove returning with an olive leaf provided hope that the flood waters were receding (Genesis 8:6-12).
- Rahab: A scarlet cord hung outside her window provided her hope that she and her family would be saved when Jericho fell (Joshua 2).
- Peter: Sinking in the waves, he called out to Jesus to save him. Jesus reached down and rescued him (Matthew 14:28-33).
- Blind Bartimaeus: Jesus passing nearby was all the hope he needed to cry out for mercy and for healing (Mark 10:46-52).
- Martha: Before she knew Jesus was going to raise her brother from the dead, she still clung to the eternal hope that she would see him again in the resurrection at the last day (John 11:17-27).
Today, the God of hope still calls us to abound in hope. If you’re like me, I often struggle to dwell in hope versus fret in the worries of the moment. In the new year, I so much want to abound in hope–
- hope that even weary, worn-out prayers may still be answered
- hope that no matter what happens, my confidence in Christ will remain firm
- hope that the joy of the Lord can be my strength in all circumstances
- hope that provides an eternal perspective in every situation
I already know that I will fail at times–maybe even today–but may I be marked by the pursuit of abounding in hope. If I fall and muddy my knees like my toddler often does, I want to brush myself off and try again.
What about you? Would you like to abound in hope with me? Whatever we hope for in 2024, may we keep Jesus as our focus and prioritize Him above all else.
~ Kristen
