Written by Jenni Osborn.

These times we are living in are challenging. Both in a global sense where political posturing and manoeuvring are increasing levels of anxiety and oppression in many lives; but also individually where jobs are hard to come by, the structures many have relied upon to keep them afloat – education, health and financial support – are crumbling around our very ears. 

Hopelessness hovers at the edges of so much of the conversation, emotions hard to handle and connections strain themselves to breaking point. How do you hold a conversation with those who are determined to disagree or whose bullying behaviour is impossible to breakthrough? The scenes with President Zelenskyy at the White House were hard to watch, and almost every news item coming out of the States makes our jaws drop another notch. It’s hard to find hope in amongst the onslaught of negativity. 

And yet, hope is absolutely vital to us. It is the engine of our souls, the soothing sound of water running, the sunshine after a long cold grey winter. 

We are just entering the Christian season of Lent, when Christians prepare themselves for Easter and gratitude and hope are central to this practise. And right now, hope and gratitude are at a premium, so here’s a non-exhaustive list of things which give us reasons to be hopeful: 

• Spring flowers – it’s so life-giving to see yellow heads nodding in the sunshine, purple crocuses blanketing gardens and other colourful splashes appearing in public spaces.
• Lighter mornings – getting up when it’s getting light or already light is such a gift after the long winter. My heart lifts a little when I pull back the curtains and the sun is shining.
• Playlists and live music – your favourite artist on the radio or your favourite album on repeat at home or in the car, music has the power to move us, give us hope and fill us with a sense of wellbeing. Bonus points for singing along loudly and not caring whether you’re in tune or not!
• Physical touch – hugs, holding hands, sitting close, or even just a moment of a hand on your arm, there is a lot of science behind how physical connections can improve our wellbeing. Of course, we need to have permission, but reaching out literally can bring us hope and a sense of gratitude. 
• Change – the phrase ‘this too shall pass’ can be a little overdone at times but there is truth in it. If you’re in a dark place right now, know that it will change, because change is the only certain thing in life! If you’re in a good place right now, find a way to record how you feel, because things will change. Whichever way you look at it, change can be a hopeful thing, even though it might also be difficult. 
• Stories – whether they are told through spoken word, written word, on film or in some other form, stories have the ability to take us away from our current circumstances and into another world. They lift us up, giving us hope and a sense that things will be better. 
• A walk on the beach or in the forest
• A chat with a friend
• Encourage a stranger
• Watching a sunrise or sunset
• Getting your hands dirty in a garden or allotment

Now, over to you. What brings you hope? How could you do more that gives hope to you and others around you? 

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✏️ Jenni Osborn is a practice supervisor for those who work with young people. You can find her on her website, Instagram and Substack.

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💬 All views are those of the author, and copyright belongs to them. This has been presented as provided to thebrokenchurch.

📧 If you’re interested in sharing a little hope between 5th March and 17th April 2025, get in touch (abrokenpastor@gmail.com) with your contribution. It can be an article, blog post, artwork, poem, song, photo… there are no rules others than it be your original work and offers a little bit of hope.