A GOOD WORD WEDNESDAY #24

Good Words for Your New Year

Dec 28, 2022

Good Word of the Week: HOPE

As I pause for a break this last week of 2022, please enjoy this piece from the Stories for Global Good Archives

Hope in a New Year

Posted on January 1, 2018 (Written when I was Global Communications Officer for She Is Safe)

It started with my Sunday School teacher and friend, Jamie, challenging our small group to prayerfully select a word that would represent our theme for 2018. And that’s where the obsession with the word began. Hope. It changes everything. Because without it, the light goes out of our eyes. There is no need to go on. What point is a new year when hope fades?

I even purchased a wood carving of the word hope and placed it by my globe. He really is the Hope for the world.

Scripture is full of hope from the Psalms to the New Testament letters:

“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” Psalm 39:7
“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…” 1 Peter 1:3-4
Do a search in your Bible… so many words and stories of hope. Where would Abraham have been without hope when he started on his journey into the unknown to go to the place where God was leading him? Where would Mary have been without hope when the angel revealed God’s plan for a baby for her and a Savior for all of us?

Hope gives us courage to hang on when waiting… for a diagnosis, for healing, for a job, for what to do next.

My work with She Is Safe (Website for She Is Safe) is all about giving hope to women and girls who don’t know… that God really does know them and loves them, regardless of the person who continually abuses them… regardless of the job she is forced to do every night multiple times with men who use her and leave her alone… regardless of the disease she now has that effects every part of her life and leave her abandoned by her family.

My family gives me much hope for each day. Watching two granddaughters grow and experience life brings laughter, and wonder and joy. Watching both my son and daughter weave their way through life with their spouses brings a sense of complement and hope in my life knowing they have chosen well.

Hope. Here are the prayers I desire to pray each day, throughout the days of this new year…

“Jesus, take control. Take over. My hope is in You.”

“Jesus, lead my family. My hope is in You.”

“Jesus, lead my work with She Is Safe. My hope is in You.”

“Jesus, lead my marriage with Johnny. My hope is in You.”

“Jesus, Lead my life. My hope is in You.”

So what is your word for the new year?

Good Words I Recommend

Read more Stories for Global Good . This blog started in 2011 under the title: Oh the Great Places You’ll Go. Enjoy!

A Final Word

I hope you had a peaceful, happy Christmas with your family.

Thank you for joining me today and every Wednesday right here. I look forward to sharing with you good words each week of 2023.

Remember — I have a BIG announcement coming to your inbox next week. See you then! As always, share a Good Word with someone today.

Thank you for reading A Good Word Wednesday. This post is public so feel free to share it.

I’m always happy to hear from you. How are you doing this holiday season?