“He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” -Revelation 21:5
I first heard the Hymn of Promise, by Natalie Sleeth, while attending worship at the First United Methodist Church in Cache, Oklahoma. It is an easy hymn to sing, and the melody quickly caught my attention. It took some time to appreciate the beauty of the three verses of this song. At first, they seemed simple, but there is a depth to them that speaks hope to me each time I sing this wonderful, modern hymn.
I was reminded of this hymn while my wife and I were looking at the blooming flowers in our yard. Spring has brought our tulips and iris to life. Our yard has been dormant, brown, and lifeless for so many months. Now, there are bright colors ending our yard’s winter slumber. The bulbs have been resting below the ground, waiting to show their beauty, once again.
The Hymn of Promise is not only a reflection of what God does as the seasons change, but what God’s grace does in our lives as we are brought to life through the resurrection of our Lord, Jesus. Natalie Sleet reflects on how God gives us new life in the beautiful line, “There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody; there’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.”
There are moments in each of our lives when we struggle to see hope. We have all experienced a time when we look around and feel trapped by darkness. The great promise of our faith is that God is working to make all things new. (Revelation 21:5) No moment is so dark that the light of God cannot pierce. No situation is so bleak that God’s love is not greater still. Even in death, our faith proclaims a victory.
I hope you will take a moment to look around and see the bright signs of life that are springing up around us. Let it be a reminder to you that God is at work in our world, “bringing hope to you and me.”
In the bulb there is a flower;
In the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise:
Butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter
There’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season,
Something God alone can see.
(Hymn of Promise, verse 1, Natalie Sleeth)
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
