Friday, Second Week of Lent

FRIDAY, SECOND WEEK OF LENT

Knowing A Faithful God

So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; and they took him and threw him into a pit. Genesis 37:23, 24

Only if you pray with hope can you break through the barriers of death. For no longer do you want to know what it will be like after you die, what heaven exactly will mean, how you will be eternal, or how the risen Lord will show himself. You don’t let yourself be distracted by daydreams where all your conflicting desires are satisfied in a wish-come-true hereafter. When you pray with hope, you turn yourself toward a God who will bring forth his promises; it is enough to know that he is a faithful God. This hope gives you a new freedom which lets you look realistically at life without feeling dejected.

Lord, may I learn to pray in ever deeper hope this Lent.

Henri J. M. Nouwen

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