Let Us Sow Faith and Hope
Becoming Instruments of God’s Peace
Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.
-Henri Nouwen
The next two lines of the Peace Prayer are: “Where there is doubt, [let us sow] faith; where there is despair, hope.”
I recently heard a story about a high-school girl who was part of a card ministry at her church, sending cards of encouragement to people facing challenges. Suddenly, she developed a serious health condition herself that required major surgery. Waiting in her hospital room the day before her operation, she received a surprise she would never forget: a large box containing over two hundred cards from members of her church, offering her hope and encouragement. The hospital staff reported they had never witnessed such a tangible outpouring of love and hope. The surgery went well, and the girl brought all of her cards home to help keep her spirits up during her recovery.
When someone is experiencing doubt and despair, there is no greater gift we can give them than our faith and hope. There are countless meaningful ways we can offer these to others, from simply sitting with someone, to providing a simple encouraging call, text, letter, or card.
In a world full of trouble and fear, we are called to be God’s instruments of faith and hope. The opportunities for doing so are all around us.
Making it Personal: Can you think of a time when you were experiencing doubt or despair and someone sowed a seed of faith and hope in your life? Is there someone during this season to whom you might be called to offer these gifts? Consider not only people you know, but also those in your wider community who could benefit from seeds of faith and hope in their struggles.