I’ve been thinking about hope a lot the last few days. My sense is that we undervalue the power and role of hope in bringing miracles to pass. Among the big three, “faith” and “love” get all the attention.

But the Bible has a lot to say about hope.

–Romans 5:5 says, “Hope does not disappoint.”

–Psalms 34:5 says to God, “Those who hope in You will never be put to shame.”

–Romans 4:18 tells us: “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations . . .”

Want a biblical picture of hope? In Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son, He says the father saw his wayward son headed home when the boy was still far off.

That means he was sitting on the porch, scanning the horizon.

At rest. But expectant.

My sense is that many Christians, in attempt to protect their hearts from disappointment, have stopped hoping. Stopped expecting much.

I suppose it’s true that if you keep your expectations low, you suffer fewer disappointments. But I can’t believe that that is the way we’re called to live our lives in God.

As for me and my house, we’ll get our hopes up and keep them there. If we experience disappointment, we’ll trust God with the mystery.