In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. [Ephesians 1:7-10]

Hope is something in short supply in our world. Not the kind of hope for something to make us feel better but genuine hope. Hope is the expectation of positive change. It has nothing to do with mortgages and health care. It is entirey about living with a confidence in something beyond you, and seeing your place in that something.

God, I could use some hope and some confidence. This thing you’re doing in me that we call faith – it is a little scary because it is so unknown and uncontrollable. Maybe that’s why I don’t invite others into it. Who wants this uncontrollable faith? But love is uncontrollable; peace is indescribable; grace is transcendent.