The Prophet Candle:
HOPE REMAINS
Flickering faintly in the darkness
Quietly enduring
When all other light
Has been lost
Hope Quotes
“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness.”
-- Desmond Tutu
“Hope is like the sun. If you only believe in it when you can see it, you’ll never make it through the night.”
-- Leia from Star Wars
“Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it will shine out all the clearer.”
-- J.R.R. Tolkien from Lord of the Rings
Opening Questions
What is your definition of hope?
How have you experienced hope in your life?
Discussion Questions
Malachi is the last prophet to hear from God in the Old Testament.
What broken relationships does Malachi speak about? How do Malachi’s warnings relate to our lives today?
Malachi 1:12-14
Malachi 2:7-9
Malachi 2:13-15
Malachi 3:5
Malachi 3:6-9
What message of hope does Malachi bring? How do His words of hope relate to our lives today?
Malachi 3:10-12
Malachi 4:2
Malachi 4:5-6
Hope only really exists when it makes no sense to hope.
When have you felt most hopeless?
What issues seem most hopeless to you right now?
How can we make room for hope in a world and time that appears to be hopeless?
Spiritual Practice: Lament
What: An expression of grief or sorrow, a crying out of the soul
How: Through words and/or actions (Prayers, psalms, sackcloth, fasting, etc.)
Why: Looking toward God for help and hope, knowing that our Father will see us and reach out to us in our pain
Concluding Question
How can the spiritual practice of lamenting make room for hope in our lives?
Personal Devotionals
Daily scripture readings and meditations