Hope - Part I

Jane Goodall, “The Book of Hope”, co-authored by Douglas Abrams, with Gail Hudson, Caledon Books, Copyright 2021.

How can you have hope? In Genesis 6:5, God looked down on the world He had created and was saddened. He saw that every intent and thought of man was only evil. Sometimes when we watch the news, it feels like the world hasn’t changed. So why do we have hope? “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11).  We have hope because God gives us hope.

We need not fear anything or worry about anything (Philippians 4:6-7). God tells us in Matthew 6:25-27 that we don’t need to worry because He is watching over us. He takes care of the animals and the birds, and we are so much more valuable to Him. We are His children.

To illustrate this hope, I recently read an article about Jane Goodall. In her book, “The Book of Hope”, she shares a story about a tree she saw at the 911 World Trade Center Monument. This tree—a Callery Pear known as the “Survivor Tree”—was at ground zero during the attacks. When the debris was cleared, the tree was found alive beneath the concrete and steel.

The Department of Parks and Recreation dug it up and cared for it until it was well enough to be returned to the memorial, where it now stands tall, a reminder to all of resilience and survival. It is such a symbol that there is hope even in the midst of despair and destruction.

Building on this example, Goodall also writes about a 500+ year-old tree she saw on a trip to Nagasaki, Japan, the site of the 1945 atomic bombing. Despite being badly burned, with large gashes in its trunk, this tree still produces fruit today. Its seeds and saplings are distributed worldwide as symbols of hope and resilience.

But we don’t have to search for such famous symbols. We can just walk to a park, beach, or field. Take a look at the trees. Do you see some that are bent, then bend back up toward the sky? Are there any twists? What about some that have been hit by lightning? If the tree has deep, strong roots, then storms can come, winds can blow, but the roots will hold the tree in place. The trunk may bend, limbs may break. The tree may even twist around. But it will stand.

We are the same. If our roots are grounded in Christ. If we are deeply rooted in scripture, storms of life can come and  blow. We may be knocked backwards, but our roots will pull us back. We may get twisted, but our roots will hold. Our dreams may get broken, but we will survive. This is the Hope we can have when we are rooted in Christ.

So remember, if He watches the trees, the birds, all the animals on the Earth, He watches you, His greatest creation. Remember, He has plans for you, Hope, and a future. And remember His promise, “If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you.” (John 14:3)

This is my Hope!

Copyright@2025 Tera J. Lee