Small Shifts, Big Faith: You’ve Gotta Have Hope (Part XIV)

Sermon Title: Small Shifts, Big Faith – You’ve Gotta Have Hope

Good News Statement: Jesus encourages his church to be alive

Summary: The church isn’t perfect but yet is willing to grow in faith, practice love, and be alive today and tomorrow.

Preached: Sunday, September 13^th, 2026 at Dogwood Prairie UMC & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Acts 26:4-8 Today’s scripture reading comes from the Book of Acts. As Paul was sharing his defense while on trial in front Festus, King Agrippa, and the people, he talks about his journey and how through the hope of Christ’s resurrection he will be saved. Let’s read Acts Chapter Twenty-six, Verses Four thru Eight. May the hearing and reading of this scripture add understanding and meaning to your life.

 

Paul Defends Himself before Agrippa

26 Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began to defend himself:

² “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, ³ because you are especially familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews; therefore I beg of you to listen to me patiently.

⁴ “All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, a life spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. ⁵ They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I have belonged to the strictest sect of our religion and lived as a Pharisee. ⁶ And now I stand here on trial on account of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors, ⁷ a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship day and night. It is for this hope, Your Excellency, that I am accused by Jews! ⁸ Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?

⁹ “Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth ¹⁰ And that is what I did in Jerusalem; with authority received from the chief priests, I not only locked up many of the saints in prison, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being condemned to death. ¹¹ By punishing them often in all the synagogues I tried to force them to blaspheme, and since I was so furiously enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.

 

The Word of God, for the People of God; And all God’s People said, “Thanks Be To God.”

 

 

Introduction:

The ministry of Jesus Christ has been shared. Healings have been performed. The blind were able to see and the lame able to walk. Those demon possessed were set free. The chains of the oppressed were broken. People began to believe and prayed to have their “unbelief turn into belief” (Mark 9:24). Some were even raised from the dead to breathe again. And some were welcomed home after being outcast to the dark, damp, tombs outside of the city walls.

Then, after riding into Jerusalem on a never before ridden donkey and being praised as the people laid their cloaks on the ground as shouts of “Hosannas” filled the air, Jesus is turned over to the religious leaders of the day. Jesus is questioned and tortured by the Roman soldiers—beaten nearly to death—prior to receiving a crown of thorns and a purple robe as a sign of earthly mockery. He was presented to the people in the presence of Pontius Pilate, who said, “But what crime has he committed? I cannot find anything he has done to deserve death! I will have him whipped and set him free” (Luke 23:22, GNT). To which the people responded, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Luke 23:20, GNT). Luke 23:24 states, “So Pilate passed the sentence on Jesus that they were asking for.”

Jesus is marched from the palace to Calvary, bearing the weight of the cross—most likely the horizontal beam—as excruciating pain shot through his body with every step, as blood dripped from his head to the ground, soaking the dirty road beneath his feet, and as both cries and shouts surrounded him. On Calvary, he hung on the cross for six hours before taking his last breath and proclaiming “It is finished” (John 19:30). Then he was taken down from the cross and laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Three days later he rose from the dead to prove that death does not have the last word, that a tomb sealed by a large stone could not withhold him, and that an instrument of death—the cross—is a promise of hope and salvation. And now, after 40 days of walking this earth in his resurrected form, he has ascended to heaven; but before leaving this earth, he gave his apostles and disciples a challenge: to keep the church alive.

This is where the Book of Acts comes into play. For those that are unaware, the Book of Acts (or sometimes called the Acts of the Apostles), written during the time of 33AD to 62AD, is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Luke was a physician back in the day and has been credited to write the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. The theme of Luke’s writing after the ascension of Jesus Christ is focused on how the Holy Spirit empowers believers to declare the gospel among both Jews and Gentiles. In doing so they establish the church, which is the fulfillment of God’s promises from the beginning of time. Jesus states in Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Luke’s purpose for writing the Book of Acts—the journey and testimony of Paul and the rise and growth of the early church—was to give an orderly account of the early church after Christ’s resurrection; and to highlight the notion that keeping the church alive was not, is not, and will not be easy. But keeping the church alive is necessary. So, for the next several weeks, we are going to explore certain themes sprinkled throughout the Book of Acts which I believe remind us of how important it is to keep the church alive today for tomorrow. And the question I propose to you is this: “What are we doing and could be doing to keep our church and the whole Church—the body of Christ—alive?”

 

Body:

Emily Dickinson once wrote, “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all…” Desmond Tutu is quoted saying, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” And Robert H. Schuller has been heard saying, “Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.”

Hope. How many of you, here today, have ever hoped for something? How many of you have ever hoped that something will happen in your life or in the life of someone you know? How many of you, here today, have hope? You hope that your favorite sports team will be the best this year. You hope your children will listen to you. You hope nothing disrupts your agenda. You hope so-and-so has a safe trip. You hope your friend gets better soon. You hope that the harvest season goes well, without any major setbacks or accidents. You hope that your prayers get answered. You hope that the next generation finds success. You hope that it will rain. You hope that the preacher’s message is short today. Believe it or not, each and every one of you has hope. But what is hope?

Hope is more than a four letter word. The online website Wikipedia defines hope as “an optimistic state of mind that combines a strong desire for something to happen with a confident expectation or belief that it is possible.”[1] The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines hope as “to cherish a desire with anticipation; to want something to happen or be true.”[2] Lastly, Biblical hope is often attributed to three things: 1) a desire for something good in the future, 2) a belief in a certain desire, and 3) a full assurance of God’s trust in that desire. King David tells us in Psalm 42:5 to hope in God: “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.”

You see, hope is more than a four letter word. As a matter of fact, it is more than what we say before we blow out the birthday candles on a cake: it’s more than wish. Hope is a desire, a sense of trust, a promise fulfilled, and a belief that something is possible through faith in God. Some may even say that hope is a mini but powerful prayer.  Today, I invite us to realize that hope was part of the early church, and that hope is still needed today as we move forward as a church doing what God needs us to do, believing in the people God puts before us, and having faith that if we have hope things are possible. Church, we have to have hope!

To demonstrate the need to have hope, I would like to share with you another moment in Paul’s ministry, share with you a brief reflection on a moment in our nation’s history that at first took away our hope but at the same time made it stronger, and then end by reminding you of the hope you have in your life.

 

Movement One: Introduction to the Scripture Text…

Our scripture passage comes from Acts 26:4-8. Prior to this moment, Festus—a Roman governor of Judea who took over for Felix around 59AD—is in charge of watching over Paul, who is currently on trial and under arrest. To be clear, Festus is not a fan of Paul. As a matter of fact, Festus is frustrated with the trial of Paul: he doesn’t really care for him, he wanted to lead Paul into an ambush that would allow the Jews to kill him, and he is upset that nothing is going his way. As a matter of fact, Acts 26:24 records Festus yelling these words at Paul, “You are out of your mind… Your great learning is driving you insane.” Paul’s case continually gets prolonged because he is a Roman citizen; and Festus, although according to historical records was a fair and reasonable governor, is frustrated, agitated, and annoyed with Paul and how Paul continually finds himself getting more chances than he deserves. To add fuel to the fire, Paul requests—which he has every right to do so because he is a Roman citizen—to meet with the emperor Caesar; and Festus had to obey. However, Festus was perplexed as to what charges should be sent with Paul to Rome, so, when King Herod Agrippa II paid a visit to Caesarea, Festus discussed Paul’s case with him, thinking that Agrippa might have more knowledge of the religious issues involved. Then Agrippa told Festus that he would like to hear from Paul himself, and Festus said, “Tomorrow you will hear him” (Acts 25:22).

Paul, bound by chains and under the watchful eye of Festus and other Roman soldiers, is transported within Jerusalem to appear before King Agrippa. For background information, King Agrippa comes from the line of Herods. The godfather of the Herod clan was Herod the Great, the king when Jesus was born and one who tried to have him killed (Matthew 2). Herod Antipas ruled during the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus. He is the one who had John executed (Mark 6) and sat in judgment at one of Jesus’ trials (Luke 23:7–12). Herod Agrippa I was king of Judea for a few years and the one who had James executed (Acts 12). So, King Agrippa doesn’t come from a well reasonable line of rulers: power-hungry and power-driven people seeking to rule the world by any means necessary; and this is who Paul is going to stand in front of.

On the next day, with much pomp and circumstance, Festus, Agrippa II, and Bernice—Agrippa’s sister—gather to hear Paul. Festus introduces Paul by saying, “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him” (Acts 25:24–27).

King Agrippa then gave Paul leave to speak for himself. “So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: ‘King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently’” (Acts 26:1–3). Paul then goes on to tell the story of his life as a persecutor of the church and how Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus. He even quotes the question that Jesus asks him, “Why are you persecuting me? (Acts 9; Acts 26:14).” He concludes with referencing prophecies that the Messiah would rise from the dead and that salvation would be provided to the Gentiles.

It’s in Paul’s defense that we hear our scripture passage today; we hear of someone who had hope in God. Acts 26:4-8 states, “All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, a life spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I have belonged to the strictest sect of our religion and lived as a Pharisee. And now I stand here on trial on account of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors, a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship day and night. It is for this hope, Your Excellency, that I am accused by Jews!  Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?”

From out text, notice how Paul is identifying with the accusers: “our religion,” “our ancestors,” “our twelve tribes,” “the promises of our God.” Paul is making the case that he is a Jew with the same religion, same ancestors, same tribes, and same God as those Jews who are putting him on trial. Paul is basically saying, “If this is how you treat me, then this is how you treat your own people. This is how you treat yourselves.” Paul knows he has a message to share, he understands that this message is teaching about the resurrection of Christ which is something Jews don’t believe, but yet even in their differences he is offering a sense of unity. He is teaching them that differing minds can worship together. Remember the Greek philosophers in Acts 17 which wanted to hear more from Paul? Think about all the Christian denominations whose worship and beliefs differ slightly but yet they all believe in Jesus Christ. Paul wants the people to find unity where there is difference, understanding where there is misunderstanding, and acceptance where there is neglect. Paul wants the people to know, as he will later write to the Corinthians, “Now you [and I] are the body of Christ, and each of [us] is part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27).

Then Paul mentions the idea of hope. He says, “I stand here on trial on account of my hope in the promise made by our God, the hope that our tribes seek to attain, and a hope that has lead me to this predicament.” Paul, while on trial and having been tortured, hasn’t given up on hope—a hope that has been around since creation, a hope that his people long to experience, and a hope that leads to the fulfillment of God’s promises in their life. This hope that Paul talks about is “built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” This hope is not just a promise and is not just something people seek to attain; this hope is based on the belief that God is in your life, this hope is built upon the faith you have in Jesus, and this hope is empowered by the trust you have in the workings of God.

Paul, while on trial, assures the people—that no matter what happens to him, counting is life of no value except in the ministry of Jesus (Acts 20:24), he has been given a hope that will change his life. Paul understands that with hope, his life can be saved, that he can be found in the wilderness, that he can be pulled out of the miry clay, that you can be rescued from the drowning waves, that he can be given a new life, that he can be resurrected. It’s hope—God’s promises our trust in God— that will get us through our trails.

Paul wants the people to remember the hope that God has given them and continues to give them because it is hope that connects all people together. It’s no wonder Paul wrote in Romans 5:2-5, “…we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God… suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint.” Because Paul doesn’t give in to the pressures of the crowd—giving into what the Jews want—Paul is able to find hope in his suffering, hope in his ability to keep going, hope in who God has called him to be, and hope in simply sharing the glory of the Lord. Paul had hope in God! And Paul knows that this hope will not and does not disappoint because it is not a product of pressure but a product of belief, faith, and trust in God. Because of hope, Paul doesn’t give in to what the people want but decides to do what God needs him to do: Paul keeps the church alive through hope!

The hope that you have today, is it strong enough to overcome your trials? Is it strong enough to not lose belief, faith, and trust in God even when life gets difficult? Is it strong enough to ask for help? Is it strong enough to keep your heart right with God? Is it strong enough to overcome that which can tear God’s creation apart? Is it stronger than your fears? Is your hope built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness? Paul didn’t lose hope, even though he had every right too. Rather he believed in the hope that God gave him: a hope that would save him. Can you say the same thing about yourself?

 

Movement Two: Hope after September 11^th, 2001…

This leads to understanding the power of hope in our lives but also how hope is masked by fear at times. Life is unpredictable. The world is constantly changing.[3] In thinking about fear, I am drawn toward an event that many of us lived through. Twenty-five years ago, on September 11^th, 2001, it seemed as if all hope was lost. Fear moved in. A pandemic of hatred took over our thoughts. A cancer of retaliation was a common diagnosis. Hope was no more. I want to take you back to the day.

American Airlines flight number 11 departed Logan International Airport in Boston at 7:59am and was headed to Los Angeles. Aboard were 11 Crew members and 76 passengers. The plane was hijacked and crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center between the 93^rd and 99^th floors at 8:46am. United Airlines flight number 175 departed Logan International Airport in Boston at 8:14am and was headed to Los Angeles. On board were 9 Crew members and 51 passengers. The plane was hijacked and crashed into the South Tower of the World Trade Center between the 77^th and 85^th floors at 9:03am. The third plan, American Airlines flight number 77, departed Washington International Airport in Virginia with 6 crew members and 53 passengers at 8:20am. The plane was hijacked and crashed into the west wall of the Pentagon at 9:37am. The fourth plane, United Airlines flight number 93, departed Newark International Airport in New Jersey at 8:42am and was en route to San Francisco. Onboard were 7 crew members and 33 passengers. The plane was hijacked and it crashed in a field in Stonycreek Township. The plane was intended to crash into either the U.S. Capitol or the White House but was diverted because the passengers fought back. Lastly, a total of 33 crew members, 213 passengers, and 2,731 pedestrians were killed on 9/11. Nearly 3,000 people died that day. Nearly 3,000 people didn’t make it to their final destination.

Words can’t describe what took place 25 years ago. Although author and interfaith founder and activist, Eboo Patel, does his best to capture the feelings, emotions, fear, doubt, and lack of hope of that day in his book Sacred Ground: Pluralism, Prejudice, and the Promise of America, published in 2012, he struggled to find the words to describe a day that changed history. Patel had to remind himself that in great division and immense hatred, hope is still present. Do you remember where you were and what you were doing when he heard of this tragic day that according to former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, when describing the bombing on Pearl Harbor in 1941, could be described as a “Date which will live in infamy”?

I remember sitting in Mrs. Pearson’s kindergarten class at Northside Elementary School in Geneseo, Illinois. It was a cloudy, warm, Fall-like day. The newness of school was still in the air. As a class, we were getting ready to go outside for recess, and that’s when the intercom system rang throughout the school. The sound of the principle’s voice, under the crackling of well-aged speakers, echoed throughout the empty halls. The Principal, in a calm, soothing voice–very similar to how he normally sounded–said that everyone would have to remain inside for the rest of the day. As a matter of fact, I don’t remember leaving the classroom at all that day. Not a footstep was heard in the hallway. The sound of squeaky shoes in the gym was silent. There was no music coming from the choir room. Paint brushes weren’t clanking in cups of water being cleaned. The swings on the playground remained still and no one was running around the bases or catching a football or shooting hoops. In a school housing over 200 students, nothing could be heard.

A couple of minutes later, he appeared at the classroom door, signaling for Mrs. Pearson to come over, and that’s when our lives changed.

On that day 25 years ago, our nation experienced something that will never be erased. What happened has become part of our DNA, our identity, our way of living. Those who lived through that day remember it vividly: the photos, the live news reports, the smoke, the screams, the piles of debris, the tears, and the loss. Those who will only read about it will wonder what it was like to live before that tragic day. Do you remember where you were?

On that day 25 years ago, we all found out about a horrendous and terrible act that put this very nation and ourselves in a state of unrest and fear, uncertainty and doubt, and weariness and constant tears. Sadness and devastation cloaked our nation as a shroud covers the face of a weeping widow. We weren’t a nation of unity, but of hatred, bigotry, and division. Do you remember what you were feeling?

On that day 25 years ago, the lives of thousands stopped breathing; families, loved ones, and friends experienced heartbreak and sorrow; this nation entered into an eternal state of grief and suffering, of sorrow and mourning; and God became a victim instead of being someone to lean on. Do you remember what you saw? Do you remember the fear that blinded our nation’s hope?

On that day 25 years ago, the very ground that rested below the World Trade Center shook the core of our nation as concrete, glass, steel, and other debris fell from the sky and crashed to the earth below. Streets were closed. Sirens blared. People couldn’t comprehend. Do you remember?

Twenty-five years later, the feelings, the fear, and the visions still exist. But together, we must remember that God has never left our side. As a matter of fact we are reminded several times throughout Scripture that God is with us. And that God gives us the strength to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9) in moments of fear and hopeless despair; and that we must “stand firm in our faith” (Philippians 1:6) as we step together towards a nation of equality, acceptance, and remembrance. God was there and He was definitely there on September 12^th when the people needed to believe in hope.[4] We must live into the hope—the belief, the faith, the promises, the trust, and the prayers—so that we can find the strength to keep moving forward.

Throughout our nation’s history, there have been tragic moments that have put fear into the lives of many people; but it seems that what took place on 9/11 truly shook the core of who we are. However, during that day and the years that followed, we quickly learned that even when hope can’t be felt, it can still be found. I shared with you a brief reflection on 9/11 not to instill fear into your life but to remind you that if we truly believe, have faith, and trust in God, we have the hope to move forward together. We have a hope that is much stronger than fear, that is present in the rubble of the day, that can be found in the debris of life, that can be seen through the cracks of our cisterns, that can give us light when everything seems dark, that is much louder than screams, that is shining through clouds of smoke, and that is present even in our grieving. There is hope.

September 11^th, 2001, may have dwindled our hope but it did not remove it. Much like Paul, we were put on trial against the enemy. But our hope did not disappoint. It brought us together. It made us whole. It changed us. And it saved us. I wonder if the current generation and future generations, when they read about what took place 25 years ago, will read about a hope that guided a people through a tragic time?

 

Movement Three: Do You Have Hope…

In thinking about the hope of Paul and the hope found in tragic moments, I now turn today’s message to you by asking, “Do you have hope? What are you hoping for?” Again, I’m not talking about wishes—we all have some sort of wish. Wishing for rain, wishing for cooler temperatures, wishing that our to-do list would complete itself, wishing that gas prices would decrease, wishing to find a golden ticket, etc. I’m asking about your hopes. I’m asking about your belief, faith, and trust in God. I’m asking about the promises that God has made with you. I’m asking about the prayers you lift up. I’m inviting you to think about what your heart truly desires.

I believe some of you are hoping for answered prayers.  There is someone in your life who needs healing, who needs to be found, who is going through a rough time, who needs to be resurrected and given a new life. I know some of you are hoping for honest communication, for someone to truly listen to you. Some of you are hoping for understanding and not ridicule. Maybe you are hoping for healing and strength. Maybe you are hoping that your children grow up doing what they love to do while following their dreams. Maybe you are hoping that God hears your prayers for someone in your life. Maybe you are hoping to find hope in a trial you are facing, in a temptation that is tugging at your heart, in a difficult time that won’t go away. Maybe you are hoping for a new beginning, a fresh start, a new perspective. Maybe you are hoping for forgiveness. Maybe you are hoping to remove the worry from your life. Maybe you are hoping for just a single moment to breathe and to experience peace. Maybe, just maybe, you are hoping that God gives you a belief that is unshakable, a faith that is firm, and a sense of trust that can save your life. What are you hoping for today? What has God placed upon your heart?

What about the church? As a church, what are we hoping for? Are we hoping to fill the pews? Are we hoping to be given opportunities to gather together more frequently? Are we hoping to embark on ministry and outreach opportunities that meet people where they are and fulfill needs? Are we hoping to be challenged? Are we hoping that Jesus will do something to help us get out of a rut? Are you we hoping that God will give us direction when it comes to projects?  Are we hoping that the children of our church find within themselves the will to want to come to church? Are we hoping that our church becomes a place and space people talk about and feel welcomed in? Are we hoping that we have enough belief, faith, and trust to overcome any trials we may face as a church? Are we hoping that we can find ways to remind ourselves that there is life in us yet?

At the genesis of the early church, while on trial, Paul told the people to have hope. But it wasn’t just any kind of hope. It was a hope that drew the people back to the promises of God, a hope that didn’t disappoint. Paul invites us to consider the hopes we have as individuals and as the collective body of the church, and to really think if what we hope for draws us closer to God and God’s promises. The hopes we have should remind us of our beliefs, of our faith, of our trust, of our willingness to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ, of our strength to overcome trials, of our ability to conquer our fears, and of our salvation. This hope is what gives us the endurance to keep going, and it is what builds the church for generations to come.

So I ask you again, what are you hoping for? What is the church hoping for?

 

Conclusion:

As we conclude this message, I want to remind you of a quote from Desmond Tutu, who said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.” Paul was at a dark time in his life when he was put on trial before the people that hated him, but, yet, because he had hope in Christ, he saw a light that would save him. When our nation was speechless 25 years ago, undergoing immense fear, it found light in the hope of tomorrow. As the church continues to grow, face challenges, overcome obstacles, and celebrate achievements, I pray that it continues to have hope in the guiding light of Christ. And as you live each day, not knowing what is going to happen, I hope that you don’t lose hope but find a way each and every day to experience the light of hope which is built on nothing less but Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

To use the theme of George Michael’s song Faith, “You’ve got to have hope.” The hope of Christ will save you. The hope of God will change you. And the hope of the Holy Spirit will renew you. Do you have hope? What are you hoping for? What is our church hoping for?

Let it be so…

 

 

Closing Prayer:

Dear Jesus, grant us a hope that changes our life, a hope that saves our life, and a hope that shines a light in our darkness. May the hope you give us deepen our belief, faith, and trust in you as we come together to be a church that is hopeful for your love and guidance. In your mighty name we pray, Amen.

 

Benediction:

Church, what are we hoping for? Friends, what are you hoping for? May the hope of Christ bless you in mighty ways this week as we remind someone of the hope that is their life. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, go forth knowing that God’s hope will lead to the light. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope

[2] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hope

[3] In 2020, the scale of that change was global. Change and challenge felt overwhelming to millions of people confronting the COVID-19 virus, whether in their personal health or in the lives of loved ones. But the pandemic also exposed some shining examples of compassion and resilience. With social distancing, regular masking, guidelines for monitoring personal illness, and a shortage of resources once taken for granted, we found an impetus to press forward more aggressively, determined to bring help and hope to more people than ever before. During a global pandemic and crisis, we still found hope. Another example brings fear to many instead of hope: Cancer. Even the word sparks fear when heard or read. One of the hardest journeys to take in life is the journey of cancer treatment. And yet, patients who have faced a cancer diagnosis and have determined to tackle it head-on have discovered the immense power that loving relationships and personal support can provide a sense of hope that can conquer all fears. During the pandemic and hearing the word cancer, fear was and is more prominent than hope at times.

[4] Even in chaos and uncertainty, there is peace. Even in fear and hate, there is love. And even in grief and sorrow, pain and unrest, suffering and unknowing, the redemptive hope of God’s presence is eternal and everlasting. We must stand firm for all those who need someone to lean on.