By LeAnn Thieman
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him
so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. ~Romans 15:13
Hope is one of my favorite words. No wonder …it’s mentioned over 167 times in the Bible. Hope is the belief that the future will be better than the present and that you will have the power to make it so, especially with a little — make that a lot — of help from God, because trusting in Him and His divine guidance is the foundation of hope.
Hope isn’t only a crucial element of spiritual well-being, but for our bodies and minds as well. People who have higher levels of hope have healthier habits and are more resilient. They sleep and exercise more, eat more healthy foods and practice safer sex. They also have fewer colds, less hypertension, diabetes, and depression, and are more likely to survive cancer. Students who have more hope have higher grades. Couples who share hopes and dreams are more satisfied and more likely to have a lasting relationship.
When you feel you are losing hope, look up those 167 references in the Holy Book. Trust in Him. Create a meditation of hope, read inspiring quotes, stories, and reflections. Focus on something that excites you to remind you what hope feels like. Hope is contagious, so spend time with the most hopeful people you know.
Feel empowered. Don’t believe you’re trapped in a bad situation. Trust that God will show you the way out. He will fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, and you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Dear God, I know you have the plans for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future. You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope and trust in you.
Call to Action
Make a list of people and things in your life that contribute to your hope. Create a plan to connect. Share with them some of your favorite hope-filled scripture verses.
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Your writing raised questions in me and also answered them at the same time. So good. God is wonderful!
Thank you for your reflection on hope – just what I needed to hear this day! Love the prayer. God is so good!
…and practice safer sex? hmmm..are you referring to sex outside of marriage? if so, how is that a good, hopeful thing in itself, and how is birth control in keeping with the Catholic faith? if you are referring to sex within married life, most married Catholics are not worried about safe sex as they ARE safe in their sex lives, and open to life. I don’t mean to criticize, just looking for clarification. thanks!
Thanks for your comments and questions.
The scientific research I quoted did not define “sex” in the research study. I thought about removing that part from this blog, then prayerfully knew I was supposed to leave it in. It has been my experience, sadly, that not every married Catholic has been or is in a monogamous relationship. I pray this may have touched a heart or two.