Our Daily Bread - PslamMeet ( April 2026 )

Our Daily Bread

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PsalmMeet: THE VIRTUE OF HOPE

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Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal delves into our reason for hope.

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Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song. These hope-filled words of the Great Pope Saint John Paul II capture the essence of hope: an enduring, unseen confidence that lifts the heart even in darkness. Hope is the firm assurance that God is faithful, His promises true and His love never fails.

The Psalms are full of hope – hope that encourages, strengthens and sustains us when life feels uncertain. 

Hope is the confident expectation that God brings life, healing, and joy in His perfect time.

Psalm 42 – Hope that revives the soul

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God (Psalm 42:5, 6a).

Psalm 42 captures the human experience of despair and longing, yet turns it into a song of hope. The Psalmist is honest about inner turmoil, sadness and longing for God. True hope acknowledges reality but refuses to surrender to despair.

We are reminded that hope is rooted in God, not in circumstances. Even when we feel weak, abandoned, or lost, our hope can revive our spirit.

• Revive the sentiment of hope in your heart daily

• Recognise feelings of trouble and difficulty, but don’t let them dominate you

• Praise God even in waiting, for hope is strengthened by prayer

Psalm 130 – Hope that waits patiently

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope (Psalm 130:5).

Psalm 130 is one of patient expectation. The Psalmist places his hope in the timely faithfulness of God, acknowledging that deliverance comes from the Lord alone. Hope matures when we learn to wait without anxiety, trusting that God’s timing is perfect. 

This Psalm teaches that hope is active waiting, not passivity, but a confident expectation in God’s Word.

• Anchor your hope in Scripture, for God’s promises never fail

• Transform periods of waiting into periods of trust-filled preparation

• Recall moments of God’s goodness in your past, and be hopeful

Psalm 27 – Hope that inspires courage

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:1-2, 14) 

Psalm 27 speaks of hope as courage and confidence. The Psalmist anticipates seeing God’s goodness and calls himself to strength while waiting. Hope calls us to be brave, to persevere and to keep our hearts steadfast even in trials.

Hope is always accompanied by courage and trust. It strengthens the soul to rise above fear, despair and discouragement.

• Let hope motivate courageous choices and steadfast faith.

• Look beyond gloomy circumstances and trust in God’s ultimate goodness

• Encourage others with hope, showing that God’s promises are trustworthy.

This month, let us specially practise the virtue of Hope – Hope that heals hearts in the hardest hours.

Hope is letting God’s promises shape every heartbeat. St John of the Cross invitingly challenges us: ‘Live in faith and hope, though it be in darkness, for in this darkness God protects the soul. Cast your care upon God for you are His and He will not forget you. Do not think that He is leaving you alone, for that would be to wrong Him.’

Through Psalms 42, 130, and 27, we are invited to revive our lives, wait patiently for Him and to act courageously. Yes, we need to realise that Hope, one the three theological virtues, rests on God Himself! People may fail; plans may crumble; yet God’s love never falters. As St Bede, the Venerable says, ‘Unfurl the sails, and let God steer us where He will!’

May our life joyfully proclaim: Amid hardships, God is my Hope!

God Bless! Live Jesus!