Romans 15:13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

There is something wonderfully nostalgic about Disney’s Carousel of Progress. As the theater moves from scene to scene, we watch one family experience the changing world around them—new inventions, new conveniences, and new possibilities.

And through it all comes that unforgettable refrain:

“There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow…”

The whole attraction keeps looking forward.

What’s next? What might be possible? What will tomorrow bring?

There is something hopeful about that.

But Christian hope is different from simply believing that tomorrow will be better than today.

Because sometimes it isn’t.

Sometimes tomorrow brings news we didn’t want to hear. Plans change. Doors close. Relationships shift. Life takes an unexpected turn.

Christian hope does not promise that every new scene will be easier than the one before it.

Instead, our hope rests in something far more dependable:

Whatever tomorrow holds, God is already there.

Paul calls God the “God of hope.” Our hope isn’t rooted in our circumstances, our plans, or our ability to predict what comes next. It is rooted in the character and presence of God.

That means we can move into the future without knowing exactly what it will look like.

We can trust that the God who has been faithful in every scene behind us will remain faithful in every scene ahead.

Maybe that’s why Paul connects hope with joy and peace.

When we trust that God is already present in tomorrow, we don’t have to approach the future only with anxiety or fear. We can move forward with open hands, knowing that whatever we encounter, we will not encounter it alone.

The Carousel of Progress keeps turning toward the next scene.

So does life.

And perhaps faith means trusting that as the next scene comes into view, God will be there too.

Pause & Reflect

What “next scene” are you looking toward in your life?

Does thinking about the future fill you with excitement, uncertainty, worry—or perhaps a little of all three?

Where might you be depending on circumstances to give you hope rather than placing your hope in God?

Take a moment and slowly repeat:

Whatever tomorrow holds, God is already there.

How might believing that change the way you enter this day?

Prayer

God of hope,
we do not know what tomorrow will bring.

Some days we look toward the future
with excitement and anticipation.
Other days we face it
with questions, uncertainty, and fear.

Remind us that our hope
is not found in the promise
that everything will go according to plan.

Our hope is found in you.

Fill us with joy and peace as we trust you.
Help us step into each new day
confident that wherever life takes us,
you are already there.

And by the power of your Holy Spirit,
may our lives overflow with hope.

Amen.

Copyright © 2026 Ronda Welander