May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Rom. 15:13 (ESV)
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isa. 41:10 (ESV)
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Pet. 1:13 (ESV)
Heavenly Father, on this morning after our visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau, I’m so thankful to know you as the God of hope—not hype, not spiritual spin, not pie-in-the-sky sentimentality, but trustworthy, living hope.
I don’t want to un-see the images that haunted my imagination in the vestibule of evil outside Krakow. But with the eye of faith, I want to see the grass of the new earth and the smell of grace beginning to invade the place where systemic evil violently contradicted your beauty and goodness. That Day is coming, for sure. For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of your glory as the waters cover the sea. Hallelujah!
In a world of unsettling circumstances, unimaginable evil, and things we cannot control, it’s a source of immeasurable joy to know you love us and are in control of all things.
And as this Scripture affirms, you intend for us to abound in hope—not merely hold on for a better day. We don’t have to be afraid or be dismayed by anything or anyone, for your righteous right hand has a firm hold on us, and your grip is the grip of grace. Thank you, Father, for this assurance, especially when we feel weak, small, and conflicted.
You promise us all the grace we need for today, tomorrow, and for the rest of our days in this world—until the Day of über-grace, when Jesus returns. Father, thank you for being so generous, hope-instilling, and peace-fueling. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ holy and loving name.