bright hope.

"If we are willing not to hide under despair, but to call forth to those who abandon us - even more, to call forth to the One who seems to have turned His face - we will discover the paradox of His presence in the midst of His absence. Or, more accurately said, we will find Him after we have given up making Him in our image. Despair exposes our emptiness and the futility of our idol-making. If our hearts hunger for Him, then despair is our ally, our friend, our guide, opening our hearts to the bright hope of seeing His face."

- dan allender.

"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

- romans 5.