Today’s Scripture: Genesis 17:3-7, 15-16
6I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul recounts the story of Abraham and Sarah being promised a child in their old age. Paul says of Abraham, “No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” (Romans 4:20-21)
The following is a prayer reflection by Jan L. Richardson inspired by Romans 4:18, where Paul writes that, “Hoping against hope…” Abraham continued to believe the promise of God.
Rough Translations
Par’ elpida ep’ elpidi. —Romans 4.18a, Greek New Testament
(Literally, “Against hope with hope.”)
Hope nonetheless.
Hope despite.
Hope regardless.
Hope still.
Hope where we had ceased to hope.
Hope amid what threatens hope.
Hope with those who feed our hope.
Hope beyond what we had hoped.
Hope that draws us past our limits.
Hope that defies expectations.
Hope that questions what we have known.
Hope that makes a way where there is none.
Hope that takes us past our fear.
Hope that calls us into life.
Hope that holds us beyond death.
Hope that blesses those to come.
~ written by Jan L. Richardson, and posted on The Painted Prayerbook.