How compelling it is that uniformity stands out in a crowd? A sea of navy blazers, khaki dress pants, and burnt orange ties. If the attire wasn’t enough to identify the 30-some-odd young men traveling together in the Austin airport, the matching black backpacks with longhorn patches assured this people-watcher that this was the University of Texas Swimming & Diving team. I found myself eyeing this crew of co-eds for the majority of my wait at gate six. Maybe it was their casual swagger, or perhaps their youthful, unashamed laughter. For these student-athletes, the world is truly their oyster. The limitless potential captivated me, and with one more passing glance and a wistful smile, I boarded the plane.
LAUNCH.
A new year entails a fresh start. A new opportunity to face head-on the challenges of life, the obstacles that once stood in your path…and to conquer battles you thought hopeless. That’s the promise of a new year–hope.
But, God…
What does God say about hope? About limitless potential? About the promise of a blank slate? Does He put constraints on timing of hope? Is our God really limited to hopeful circumstances only in the few days following January 1st? Is hope reserved for the young?
“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever more. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” -Isaiah 9:7
He promises continuous hope…of which there is no end. And I’m banking on that truth as I sit here in my hotel room in Atlanta, preparing to launch on the World Race for Ecuador on Saturday. That “even forever more” He will continue to show up and show off in and through my squad. That He would be increasingly glorified, and that we would be continuously transformed by His love, His promise of hope…continuous hope.
