Renewed Hope In The New Year

…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 5:2-5 NIV

Romans 5 tell us that perseverance leads to hope and that hope doesn’t disappoint. We've all had to persevere through a tough year, and we can only hope that 2021 will be better. For Christians, this isn’t an ordinary hope. It’s a hope that comes through the Holy Spirit living in us—that no matter what happens in our earthly life, we have a resurrected hope in eternity. We're able to lean on God’s strength to face whatever challenges lie ahead, and be filled with His supernatural hope to see us through.

As we ring in the New Year, enjoy this excerpt from Lord Alfred Tennyson's poem, In Memoriam, [Ring out, wild bells] 

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

   The flying cloud, the frosty light:

   The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

 

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

   Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

   The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

 

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;

   Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;

   Ring out the thousand wars of old,

Ring in the thousand years of peace.

 

Ring in the valiant man and free,

   The larger heart, the kindlier hand;

   Ring out the darkness of the land,

Ring in the Christ that is to be. 

I don't know about you, but I'm determined to embrace a renewed sense of hope in 2021 that only Christ can bring! Happy New Year! 

God bless,

Laura