Here’s a simple resource for individuals and groups to use with Scripture texts and questions to help you explore the theme of hope.
Here’s a simple resource for individuals and groups to use to:
a) reflect on hope over a time of prayer and silence.
b) explore short passages of Scripture on the theme of hope.
c) discuss what hope means for you using some suggested questions.
For Individuals
You can take between 30 minutes to an hour for this exercise or longer if you have the time.
a. Start with an Opening Prayer of your choice, e.g. the ‘Our Father’ or ‘Hail Mary’.
b. Read the Introduction allowing a short silence for reflection.
Make some notes if you find that helpful.
c. Spend some time prayerfully reading and reflecting on the Scripture texts.
It can be helpful to reflect on a single text over a week, coming back to it again and again to find new insights into its meaning during that time.
d. Or make a few notes on some of the texts and return to them later.
Then read around your chosen texts to see the bigger context of the books they are from.
e. If you are artistic you may wish to do some doodling, drawing or listening to music alongside your favourite texts as you meditate on them.
f. Use the questions for reflection and discussion at the end to go deeper.
g. If you have more time, then read the other articles in this series on Time to hope.
h. End with a Closing prayer of your choice or with the same Opening Prayer.
For Groups
You can take between 45 minutes to an hour for this exercise or longer if your group can make the time.
a. Start with an opening prayer of your choice – said by someone in the group.
b. Invite someone to read the Introduction to the whole group, allowing a short silence for reflection.
If anyone wishes to offer a brief comment allow this, but do not let this stage of the session become a discussion.
c. Spend some time prayerfully reading and reflecting on these Scripture texts.
Allow 15-20 minutes of silent reading and meditation on the Scripture texts.
People can make notes if they wish.
d. Use the questions for reflection and discussion at the end to go deeper with your group.
e. Invite them to share in pairs before gathering the group together again for feedback and new insights.
Allow the discussion to flow and for everyone who wishes to speak to have the opportunity. Try to avoid letting one or two people dominate the conversation.
f. If you have more time, then read the other articles in this series on Time to hope.
g. End with a closing prayer – said by someone in the group.
Introduction
Hope enriches our faith and trust directed to the future. It is faith acting on and trusting in the promises God has made. It is hope that encourages us to say “yes” to God in our lives, and it is hope that helps us to find meaning and patience in our trials. Hope reminds us that we are destined to live with Christ, and it gives us the energy and ability to travel the road of discipleship in prayer, freedom and trust. We will all experience difficulties and challenges at different points in our lives. But no circumstance, no pain, no suffering can ever negate the hope we have in Christ, and in God’s promises in Scripture. The Old and New Testaments are filled with many passages on hope. From these passages and their wider contexts, we see how important it is to live out our Christian lives as people of hope, both now and in what we profess in the future.
Passages from the Old Testament
And you will feel secure, because there is hope;
you will look around and take your rest in security.
Job 11:18
Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the Lord!
Psalm 31:24
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine.
Psalm 33:18-19
Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.
Psalm 33:20-22
…but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11
The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul who seeks him.
Lamentations 3:25
But as for me, I will look to the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation;
my God will hear me.
Micah 7:7
Passages from the New Testament
“In his name the nations will put their hope.”
Matthew 12:21
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:24-25
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
1 Timothy 6:17
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3-5
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
1. Which of the passages touched you the most and why?
2. What are some of the promises of God for those that hope in him?
3. How can these promises of God strengthen you in your times of need?
4. How can these passages help to enrich the importance of hope in your prayer life?
