Each year, as the calendar turns, Jill and I embrace the practice of setting a spiritual intention—one simple word that will serve as a guide, a theme, and a lens through which we seek to grow spiritually. This annual tradition has become a powerful way for us to center our heart and mind on what God is calling us to focus on in the coming year. It’s not about New Year’s resolutions or self-improvement plans, but about discerning a deeper spiritual focus that aligns our lives with God’s will. These words shape our prayers, our actions, and our reflections, helping us stay anchored in the bigger story of God’s work in our lives and the world (more on setting a spiritual intention).
In 2023, the word cherished helped us embrace our inherent worth as beloved children of God, reminding us of the preciousness of life and the importance of honoring the people and moments that shape us. The word originated from a message from my biological mother, who I had been estranged from my entire adult life. In 2024, delight called us to find joy and gratitude in everyday experiences, cultivating a spirit of wonder and celebration in God’s creation. Both words have deepened our understanding of God’s heart for us and have encouraged us to live with greater awareness and appreciation for the abundance of love and joy in our lives.
For 2025, our word is hope.
Hope and Optimism: Understanding the Difference
I am hopeful, but not optimistic.
As we step into 2025, it is impossible to ignore the atmosphere of uncertainty and tension that still lingers in the air. The political landscape continues to be a hotbed of division and turmoil, and with another four years of the Christian Nationalist agenda looming before us, many are left grappling with feelings of helplessness or even despair. Sadly, I suspect it will be a banner year for white supremacy. This threatens to unravel all the faithful work so many have done to cultivate equity, equality, and justice.
In such a climate, it’s crucial to reexamine the concept of hope—particularly, the kind of hope that the Bible calls us to embody… a subversive hope.
It’s also important to differentiate between hope and optimism. The two words are often used interchangeably, but they carry very different implications. Optimism is typically a forward-looking, positive expectation about the future based on circumstances. Optimists may feel confident that things will get better simply because they believe improvement is possible or that challenges will resolve themselves. Many white Americans are optimistic about the economic upturn that will supposedly occur in the coming four years.
Optimism about economic growth under the current political systems often overlooks the realities of wealth inequality. The Republican Party champions free-market capitalism with minimal regulation, assuming wealth will “trickle down,” while the Democratic Party advocates for policies aimed at reducing inequality through progressive taxation and social safety nets. However, wealth is increasingly concentrated in the hands of the top 1% and 10% of Americans, with the bottom 50% owning only a small fraction of the nation’s wealth. This concentration of wealth and power, often controlled by an oligarchic elite, undermines democratic principles, perpetuates poverty, and erodes opportunities for the poor and middle class. Ironically, many voters who supported the incoming administration are also those most adversely affected by the economic conditions party policies create. We know unequivocally that wealth does not “trickle down.” A few billionaires could change the economic conditions of every American. Will they donate their fortunes to make life better for those experiencing poverty? Unlikely.
The Democratic Party, once rooted in values of caring for the poor, marginalized, and providing safe harbor for the immigrant, has become increasingly the party of educated elite millionaires and social influencers, diluting its message and core commitments. This shift has made it harder for the party to connect with working-class Americans, raising concerns that it no longer prioritizes the struggles of marginalized communities. At the same time, Christian Nationalism has gained dominance, distorting the message of Christ to serve political agendas, with leaders who, despite using Christian terminology, lack the integrity, moral compass, and commitment to justice that were central to Jesus’s teachings.
Here I must repent. My own denomination, The United Methodist Church is partly responsible for creating the Christian Nationalism that thrives today. I am optimistic for the innovative experiments happening at the edges of the UMC, where fresh ideas and missional practices are emerging to faithfully and fruitfully serve the present age. However, these efforts have struggled to make it into the center of the denomination, as they face resistance from an institutional culture entrenched in nepotism, decline, a clergy caste system, and outdated metrics that hinder real transformation.
Cumulatively, these realities don’t provide much cause for optimism in the communities where I serve as pastor.
Hope, on the other hand, is much deeper and far more rooted in something located in God’s own being and personhood. Biblical hope is not a naive belief that everything will turn out the way we want it to. Instead, it is a confident expectation based on God’s promises, regardless of the state of the world around us. The Bible presents hope not as wishful thinking but as a firm assurance that God is empathetic to our human condition and active in our reality, even when circumstances seem to be spiraling out of control.
Biblical Hope in the Face of Political Uncertainty
The prophet Jeremiah penned one of the most hopeful lines in the Old Testament, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, italics mine). He did so amid the horrors of the occupation, subjugation, and exile of his people from the promised land.
As Christians, our hope is not tethered to the political systems or figures of this world, but to the eternal, unshakable truth of God’s already here and not-yet reign. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:24-25, “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” This passage reminds us that true hope is not based on immediate or visible results but on the promise of something greater that lies beyond our current circumstances.
When facing the prospect of another four years of MAGA politics, roughly half of Americans feel as though all hope is lost, that our nation is doomed to repeat past mistakes. But the Bible challenges us to maintain hope that transcends any earthly leader or political movement. God’s kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36), and no earthly power—be it a president, party, or system—can thwart God’s ultimate purposes. God always overcomes every Pharaoh, Caesar, or empire that sought to supplant God’s graceful sovereignty.
Hope Anchored in God’s Faithfulness
Amid political instability and cultural division, we can hold onto hope by remembering that God’s promises are unchanging. Psalm 33:18-22 declares, “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who revere him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.” This passage reminds us that our ultimate deliverance comes from God, not from any political leader or government. He is the one who provides for our needs, protects us, and guides us through turbulent times.
Furthermore, God’s promises are not limited to our personal well-being. As Christians, we are called to be agents of hope in the world—sharing the love of Christ and working for justice and peace in a broken world. Micah 6:8 calls us to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.” In times of uncertainty, we are to embody the hope of Christ by living in ways that reflect His love and righteousness, even when the political climate seems dire.
The Power of Hope in a Hopeless World
Thales, the ancient Greek philosopher, once said, “Hope is the only good that is common to all men; those who have nothing else possess hope still.”
Hope has a transformative power, not only in how we view the future but also in how we live in the present. In 1 Peter 1:3-4, the apostle writes, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” Our living hope is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus, the ultimate victory over sin, death, and injustice. This hope is unshakable because it is based on Christ’s finished work, which will never be undone.
In a world where so much feels out of control, we can look to the resurrection as the ultimate reminder that God has already triumphed over the greatest forces of evil. His victory was secured on the cross, and that is the foundation of our hope. No matter what happens politically, socially, or economically, the resurrection and the promise of the coming new creation assures us that God’s plan will ultimately prevail.
Living Out Hope in 2025
So, how do we live out this biblical hope in the face of another potentially divisive year? Here are a few ways our family will seek to do this in 2025:
- Anchor Our Hope in God, Not in Political Outcomes: Whether or not we agree with the political leaders of the day, our hope is ultimately in God’s promised coming soon intervention. We will trust that God is still mysteriously at work, even when things seem bleak.
- Act with Purpose and Compassion: Hope is not passive. It calls us to action. We will look for opportunities to serve others, seek justice, and work for peace. As Christians, we can live out our hope by embodying Christ’s love in a fractured world.
- Cultivate Patience: Biblical hope often requires patience. We are called to wait for God’s promises, even when the immediate future seems uncertain. Don’t let fear or anxiety steal your peace.
- Live in Light of the Resurrection: The resurrection of Jesus is our living hope. This truth should shape our view of the world and give us confidence that no matter what happens, God has already won. Death, discrimination, and despair are not the final word.
- Remember the Serenity Prayer: In the recovery community we utilize a shortened version of Reinhold Niebuhr’s “serenity prayer.” “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Much of our anxiety comes from focusing on things beyond our control.
- Think Systemically, Act Locally: We need to employ the sociological imagination, which encourages us to understand our personal experiences within the larger context of societal structures, historical forces, and cultural norms. Simultaneously we need to act within our own sphere of influence, organizing at a grassroots level, empowering the individuals in our relational circles to envision and work toward collective social change and a more just future.
- Daily Practices that Cultivate Hope: Cultivating hope is like manna in the wilderness. We can’t live off yesterdays. God gives us just enough for each day. (If you’re interested in seven hope practices Jill and I will be experimenting with, subscribe to the free Passional Church Substack and we will send the PDF your way!)
Conclusion: The Hope of the Gospel in 2025
As we enter 2025, let us hold onto the hope that is unshaken by politics, culture, or any earthly power. Biblical hope is rooted in the reality of God’s love, promises, and eternal kingdom. While optimism may waver, hope remains steadfast because it is anchored in the unchanging nature of a God who is filled with compassion. We can look our circumstances squarely in the face, accepting reality as it is, while unleashing the power of sanctified imagination to become the ingredients of the new creation now.
In the face of potential challenges, divisions, and uncertainty, may we be a people who live with a hope that shines brightly, drawing others to the hope of Christ. If we are going to be a polarizing figure, let us polarize people to Jesus. Political parties or even denominational identities are not our source of hope. As we move into the new year, no matter the circumstances, let us cling to the words of the old hymn… “our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”
May your new year be filled with the peace and hope that only Jesus can provide, and may you experience the transformative power of this hope in every area of your life in 2025.
Amen , i stumbled onto this post on purpose , if that makes sense .