Fionette King ‘26 | Reflections on Hope
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13
The Bible reminds us that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. In this world that we face, through pain and struggle, the most important thing for us to remember is the hope we have in Jesus for a brighter tomorrow. As life throws challenges at us that test our faith and resilience, let us rest in the knowledge that we are more thanconquerors, and that Jesus is our living hope.
Prior to becoming a Perkins Fellow, I did not yet grasp how deeply I would come to care about fostering change and building healthier, more just communities. Over time, my journey has opened my eyes to the incredible work being done, both on grand scales and in small, often unseen ways. Every day, I am struck by the resilience and creativity of people working tirelessly to plant seeds of transformation. Yet, as I reflect on this, I am convinced that such efforts are rooted in something far greater: the hope that God places within us, coupled with our willingness to act on that hope. Without this divine gift, our capacity to envision and work toward a better future would falter.
It is easy to become discouraged when we see all of the pain and strife that takes place around the world. The weight of injustice can lead us to despair, threatening to extinguish our drive to pursue a more compassionate society. In all this, scripture always reassures us. Isaiah 40:31 states, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” As fallen humans, hope is not something we can retain in our own power. Naturally, we are prone to discouragement and our hope burns out quickly. It is only in God’s power that we remain able to work towards healthier communities in bold faith and divine courage.
Hope is a muscle that we train through fervent prayer and resilient action. It is a contagious spirit that flows from us as we continue to work and learn together. Let us be encouraged by the work being done, but never grow complacent. God has emboldened us to be changemakers and shine His light by loving on the communities around us.