Do you remember the story of Pandora’s Box? The lovely Pandora was sent by Zeus to be the bride of Epimetheus. One of Pandora’s more endearing charms was her curiosity, but that quality also proved to nearly be her undoing. One day Mercury, the messenger, sent a box to the young couple. It was meant for them to enjoy, but under no circumstances were they to open it. Well, of course, it is the old story of the forbidden fruit. Told that she could not do it, it became the thing that she desired to do the most. So, one day she pried it open and peeked inside. Suddenly out flew swarms of insects that began attacking them. Both lovers were stung with the poison of suspicion, hatred, fear, and malice. Now the once happy couple began to argue. Epimetheus became bitter and Pandora wept with a broken heart. But amid the quarreling, they heard a tiny voice cry out: Let me out, to soothe your pain. Fearfully they opened the box again, and this time a beautiful butterfly flew out. It touched the couple and miraculously their pain was healed, and they were happy again. The butterfly we are told was hope. It is hope that sustains us; it is hope that soothes our pain.
We live in a world of pessimists who want to rob us of our hope. They would prefer that we all be forlorn and dreadful, but God one has better in mind for us. He sends out butterflies in the darkest of times, and I just know that there is out flying right now one with your name on it. All we must do is open our eyes and look for it. Let us hold on to the hope that is in our faith and know that it will guide us through.
Once you choose hope, anything’s possible.
—– Christopher Reeve
We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope.
—-Martin Luther King Jr
Everything that is done in this world is done by hope.
—–Martin Luther
I dwell in possibility.
—–Emily Dickinson
May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.
—-Nelson Mandela
If we will be quiet and ready enough, we shall find compensation in every
disappointment.
—-Henry David Thoreau
Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.
—-Desmond Tutu
Hope is a waking dream.
—-Aristotle
Hope means hoping when things are hopeless, or it is no virtue at all… As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is mere flattery or platitude; it is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength.
—-G.K. Chesterton
I find hope in the darkest of days and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.
—–Dalai Lama
While there’s life, there’s hope.
—-Marcus Tullius Cicero
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
~~~Jeremiah 29:11
Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.
~~~I Peter 1:13
Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.
~~~Hebrews 10:23
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.
~~~Psalm 33:22
But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.
~~~Psalm 71:14
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
~~~Romans 15:13
Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, you will find a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
~~~Proverbs 24:14
LORD, because of you I know there is always hope -
Hope for today
Hope of a better day tomorrow
Hope that my pain will end
Hope that joy will return
Help me to have enough faith to live a life full of hope. Restore my hope in days when it seems to fade. Strengthen my hope today. Amen
A Pastor's Thoughts 