Welcome everyone. Our theme for this month is Hope.  

Today, we’ll be reading from Isaiah.  As we read this familiar passage, say to the Lord, Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, Open the eyes of my heart. Hope is not always seen with our eyes, but with our hearts. When everything LOOKS quite hopeless, we turn to the One who is the Author of Life, the purveyor of Hope to help us see with the eyes of our hearts, with His perspective. 

Isaiah 40:30, 31

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,    they will walk and not be faint.

The hinge of this passage, between weariness and running, between stumbling and soaring is hoping in the Lord.  We are fuelled by Hope.

What sorts of situations seem hopeless? Are you in one of those situations now? 

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What practices, which people can restore your hope? Name the practices and the people out loud!

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Hope as a word, as a concept, has been diluted, watered down and undermined in our English language.  We often say things like, “I hope we have pizza tonight!”  But Christian hope is far more profound than that.  Hebrews 7:19 talks about the “bringing of a better hope!”  When we describe Christian hope to teenagers we can say things like, “real hope is trusting that the guy who packed your parachute knows what he’s doing, or that the guy who tied your bungy cord knots around your ankles knows about knots and about math. He knows how to calculate your weight and the distance to the ground.  Christian hope is a hope in the God who shuts the mouths of lions, who floats arks and who empties tombs. Christian hope is in the God who stands in front of a tomb and says, Lazarus, come out, and Lazarus comes out!  My hope is in the Lord, who gave Himself for me.  

As we reread this passage, can you think of one young person in your life who especially needs to hope in God right now?

Isaiah 40:30,31

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,    they will walk and not faint.

How can this message of renewal of strength, of Hope, encourage your students?

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Am I setting a good example of soaring, running and walking in hope? 

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Think about how this word, this simple, godly four letter word, Hope, might change your perspective today.  Soar, run, walk,  and set an example of a life fuelled by hope. 

This is my closing prayer for all of us . . . 

Ephesians 1:18

I pray that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened in order that we may know the hope to which he has called us, the riches of his glorious inheritance in His holy people, in His youth for Christ Canada team!