Written by Laura Murray, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from her work “Holding Hope.”
Hope is grounded in the realities of our world. It does not avoid or ignore what is real nor is it bound only to what we can see. When we hope, we consider reality and open ourselves up to possibility. And this is quite the place to be! The poets of Scripture were familiar with both reality and possibility and the tension of holding them together. And through the Psalms they invite us into their humanity and ours. The Psalms overflow with images and adjectives that hold claims of who God is as well as the challenges and choices of life. The move back and forth between confidence and cries, delight and desire, hope in God and the harshness of the world. As the Psalmist shares with us we are invited to open ourselves up to the movements within us.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident. [Psalm 27:1-3]
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