Living With Hopeful Intention

Today, I will conclude this little series on approaching the new year with a mindset toward becoming the best version of yourself, and it seems fitting to end it with Hope.  

When I was studying English Literature as an undergrad, I remember reading this short line from Alfred Lord Tennyson that has stuck with me for many years now: 

“Hope
Smiles from the threshold of the year to come,
Whispering 'it will be happier'...”

It's a lovely line, and I want to believe it.  But I also realize that there have been many years when I may have felt that the new year would bring more joy, fulfillment, and happiness, and it didn't.  

Or at least it didn't feel that way.   

I have begun more than a few new years when all I wanted to do was put the previous year in the rearview mirror and move away from it as fast as I possibly could.  

And yet, there's something about a new beginning that diminishes the memory of what may have been a hard season in life, and provides what may seem like only a glimmer of hope that what comes next has to be better.  

I'm learning some things about hope lately, and I've decided that feeling hopeful, despite all the evidence around me to the contrary, must be an intentional act, one of defiance, filled with holy imagination.  

Hope at the start of a new year can feel fragile—easily overshadowed by uncertainty, fatigue, or fear. Yet biblical hope is not wishful thinking. It is a steady confidence that God is still at work, even when the future remains unclear.

Hopeful intention means choosing how we will show up, even when outcomes are uncertain. It is the decision to live with openness rather than cynicism, courage rather than avoidance. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of this hope when he writes, “For surely I know the plans I have for you… plans for your welfare and not for harm” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Living with intention does not mean controlling the future. It means aligning our lives with God’s purposes—seeking justice, practicing compassion, and remaining rooted in love.

As this year begins, hopeful intention asks us to name what we long for—not just for ourselves, but for the world. It invites us to live as if grace still matters, kindness still counts, and faithfulness still makes a difference.

Hope does not deny difficulty. It chooses to believe that difficulty is not the final word. And so we move forward—not perfectly, but faithfully—trusting that God meets us along the way.

Prayer
God of hope, anchor my intentions in your love. When the path ahead feels uncertain, help me live with courage, compassion, and trust. May my life bear witness to the hope you give. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. What hopes do I carry into this new year?

2. How can I live with intention even when outcomes are unclear?

3. Where is God inviting me to embody hope in tangible ways?