Hope

 

1.  PRAYER

• God, when I feel lost or uncertain, fill my heart with hope. Remind me that You are with me, even in the waiting. Help me trust Your plan and believe that better days are ahead. In Jesus' name, amen." 
• "Lord, I come before You, seeking hope in the midst of my circumstances. Help me to lean not on my own understanding but to trust in Your wisdom. I fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. Amen." 

2. MEDITATION 

https://youtu.be/uI0oMw-ncZo?si=xCNl5Hy7ZF7h8nfu

3.  SONG

https://youtu.be/q-dWxto9-XQ?si=CG1F-SqQ-Lo7LP9R

4.  NARRATIVE

AI Overview

Richard Rohr views hope not as naive optimism but as a deep, contemplative trust in God's enduring love and presence, even amidst suffering and darkness, finding meaning in connection, paradox, and the universe's movement toward good, rooted in Christ's resurrection and our shared humanity. It's an active, internal certainty, a "non-rational, yet calmly certain" strength that allows one to hold opposites and trust in divine unfolding rather than needing instant worldly success. 

Key Aspects of Rohr's View on Hope:

• Hope in Suffering: True hope develops through wise suffering, connecting us to God's own suffering and the pain of others, giving it meaning.
• Contemplative Foundation: Contemplation (inner union with God) fosters a deep, inherent hope that transcends logic and external circumstances.
• Mystical & Non-Rational: It's a "patient and trustful willingness to live without full closure" because our satisfaction comes from a source beyond ourselves, notes Richard Rohr's Mystical Hope summary.
• Presence & Paradox: Hope allows us to hold both light and darkness, faith and doubt, seeing God's presence even when hidden in paradox, as seen in this August 2016 reflection.
• Connection & Belonging: It's overcoming the illusion of separateness to find union with Christ and our shared divine nature, as explained in this October 2021 post.
• Active Surrender: Hope isn't passive; it's an active "leaning into what we believe can happen" and yielding to God's future, not just wishing. 

In Essence:

Rohr's hope is a grounded, expansive, and resilient spiritual stance, moving beyond mere expectation to a profound trust in the already-present and ever-unfolding goodness of God, even when the world screams otherwise. 

5.  MEDITATION 

https://youtu.be/rc5MGwHtQGs?si=ztB41aCC1zKc7mZt

6.  SHARING

7.  INTENTIONS AND PRAYER

• God, when I feel lost or uncertain, fill my heart with hope. Remind me that You are with me, even in the waiting. Help me trust Your plan and believe that better days are ahead. In Jesus' name, amen." 
• "Lord, I come before You, seeking hope in the midst of my circumstances. Help me to lean not on my own understanding but to trust in Your wisdom. I fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. Amen." 

8.  SONG AND LYRICS 

https://youtu.be/xhWOenlB7Ro?si=LSrjAGTsHc6eKQPw

Hymn of Hope' We’re a little unsteady, we’re a little unsure Times are a changing, we haven’t been here before Away from our families, the ones that we love Looking out through the windows, praying help from above Where’s the laughter of children and the gather of smiles Scattered like petals across many miles Close in the distance our voices remain Together in heart and the tears of refrain Holding out, holding on to be with you again Sending love, sending strength to our family and friends Wishing hard, wishing love for the broken to mend Beautiful world of ours recover from pain We’re a little unsteady in these days lost alone Thankful for kindness and the shelter of home Recalling the memories and love over fear Faith in tomorrow and the ones we hold dear Holding out, holding on to be with you again Sending love, sending strength to our family and friends Wishing hard, wishing love for the broken to mend And this beautiful world of ours recover from pain © Maria Daines/Paul Killington