“Let your hope make you glad. Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying.” (Romans 12: 12, Contemporary English Version)

Trust the hopefulness that you feel in spite of trouble. Deep inside, whether it is strong or a simple flicker, there is a natural hope, a belief in salvation, renewal, peace. This flame in us is God’s own voice, one that will always be with us to encourage us. For while the world may present obstacles and limits and lies, the Truth of God remains in you and me, for God put it there.

This is a cause for gladness. That small or great hope for oneself and for our world is an indication of the promise. It is God telling us that we can win; that we can conquer the challenges and see the goodness of His kingdom, the unchanging reality of Life. So, we can be grateful for this hope and nurture it. We can refuse to question that glimmer of goodness we feel, or that smile that comes in spite of an array of human problems. We can love that hope because it is the way home.

Prayer cultivates that hope. When we pray, we take that seed and water it, focusing our attention on what is good and right and loving. Then we can patiently and gratefully perceive each little bloom that appears; each new discovery of good that not only shows progress, but gives new colors to our lives before unseen. Our patience is not mere tolerance. It is loving our sweet hope enough to let it blossom into its full flowering glory, in God’s way—the right way—and to reveal that glorious garden that has always been ready for us to enjoy.

This is today’s e-inspire. These messages are based on passages from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy. These books are our “pastor” in Christian Science. Come back every Tuesday and Thursday for fresh inspiration. Or get a free subscription to receive an inspirational message like this one every morning directly to your inbox by contacting me at lamolitercs@aol.com. A downloadable compilation of categorized messages is also available by request.