Hope (Romans 15:13)
By Rev. Tyger Penson
Susan Mellon, convicted of murder, a crime she did not commit, was exonerated, released and set free on Friday, October 10, 2014. She told Katie Couric, “If it wasn’t for God, I would never have made it.” While in prison, she prayed that the truth would be discovered. She believed that God would bring a miracle. That miracle came in the human form of attorney Deidre O’Connor who runs an organization called “Innocence Matters.” The attorney said that after months of looking into the case, she met Susan’s children. Deidre saw in them the same strengths and beauty she had seen in Susan: “Hope.”
HOPE….
· It is the strength God gives to us when we reach bottom, wondering if there will ever be a chance that things will get better.
· It is the intervention of a professional to help bring justice or to right a wrong.
· It is the gift of a neighbor who drops by just because she cares—and she listens to us.
· It is the smile and outstretched hand of a child who wants to cheer us up—even when the child has no idea where the hurt is.
· It is the conviction of truth that lies deep within us when everyone else walks away or questions the validity of the truth we know.
· It is hearing God’s promise, “Lo, I am with you always.”
HOPE. It is what we want and need so desperately today in the midst of social distancing, coronavirus threats, illnesses, deaths, uncertainty, and economic disaster. We need the assurance that God is present and with us when all seems “hopeless.” God, the giver of miracles, is also the God of hope.
HOPE. It is a gift we can give to others. It happens in a phone call, a text message, a prayer, a card, a trip to the store for a neighbor, dropping off medication for a shut-in.
Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope, fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.” God of Hope, fill us, move us, and strengthen us with your hope today and each day. Amen.
Song: “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” (ELW 632)
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.