Full of Hope: A Lenten Meditation

SCRIPTURE He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. Romans 8:27 MSG

THOUGHT I was at a swimming aerobics class one day with a pregnant woman. Even in the water, she had to finally slow down to all the “jump faster” and “lift your knees higher” commands of our drill sergeant instructor. Because pregnancy, while an exhilarating experience, is often awkward and tiring. Movement becomes increasingly cumbersome, even in water, and dreams of new babies carry us through long days and longer, sleepless nights.

Whether man or woman, imagine for a moment that all your hopes and dreams of life the way God planned it are filling up your belly. You lug them around with you, awkward and tired, longing for the day they are born into reality. You are tired in the waiting, to the point of not even knowing how or what to pray. Wordless sighs and aching groans are sometimes the best communication you can trump up. This is life before the coming rebirth – resurrection.

Thank God the Spirit understands our condition and keeps us present to himself, interceding, as does Jesus — powerfully working out for good even what we see as impossible.

PRAYER Jesus, your resurrection is a powerful reminder that we, too, shall be free one day. Free of lugging around our hopes and dreams, our sense that this is not all there is. But until that day, thank you that you’ve walked this journey too, and are there ahead, praying us through.