Several people reached out to me after the Words of Hope in which I shared not being able to hear Dad’s voice on the voice message I saved. I wanted to follow up on that story. My brother said that must have been a difficult moment when the voice message didn’t have Dad’s voice. Yes, it was challenging. I felt discouraged and profoundly sad, but a gift came to me — immediately. I knew it was a gift because I had been feeling very low. I didn’t consciously shift to a positive mental attitude and try to muscle through. One minute I felt despair, and then I felt hope like a gift in my heart— spontaneous, unrequested, and surprising. 

I have experienced many moments like this. At times I will be overwhelmed with grief and overcome by missing Dad. Sometimes I cry easily, and sometimes I feel like I want to cut out all reminders so I don’t have any sorrow triggers. Often, when I get to the apex of feeling bereft, hope arrives. I cannot account for it other than receiving a gift. When C.S. Lewis went through the devastating loss of his wife, he wrote a book “A Grief Observed.” He writes, “Something quite unexpected has happened. It came this morning early. For various reasons, not in themselves at all mysterious, my heart was lighter than it had been for many weeks.”  

I attribute the gift of hope to God— one of my favorite verses says— “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace.” What an incredible image! God, Himself is defined as a God of Hope who intentionally fills me with good gifts. We can gain the whole world and have all the money and fame without joy and peace – the true treasures. 

“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 

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