A New Word

At the beginning of this year, I selected devotion as the word by which I wanted this year to be defined. While I still am excited about learning and discovering what a truly devoted life entails, the past few weeks have been defined by something else; I am learning the beauty of hope. Hope has been at times my anchor, and at other times my seemingly unattainable goal. I gave up on hope earlier this week, saying, “Every time I hope for the best, the worst happens anyway.” But hope has held on to me. I know that whatever comes in the days ahead, there will still be hope. And that, dear friends, is enough reason to stay on this journey of devotion.

^“ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” –Romans 5:1-5