Hymn Devo - Lord of All Hopefulness

"Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,

Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm;

Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,

Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day."

— From the hymn “Lord of All Hopefulness” ELW #765

This hymn invites us to believe that hope and joy aren’t things we manufacture, they have a Lord; a source.

And that matters, because if you're like is anything like mine, most mornings begin with a list, or a sense of pressure, or set of worries. The hymn doesn’t pretend those cares aren’t real, but rather it places those worries in a larger story. There is a trust that “no cares could destroy,” not because life is easy, but because God is steady.

What I love is how practical the lyrics are. They don’t ask for a perfect day. They ask for God’s presence in the real parts of it:

“Be there at our waking” — when we’re tired or anxious or furiously writing our lists

“Give us, we pray, your bliss” — not the world’s version of happiness, but a deep and joy

“Peace in our hearts at the end of the day” — not just the individual day, but at the end of all our days as well.

The hymn teaches a gentle kind of faith: the courage to ask for what we actually need. Not just “help me get through,” but “shape my heart as I go.” Not just “fix everything,” but “be with me in everything.”

Today's Affirmation:
Lord of all hopefulness,
meet me in my waking.
Give me childlike trust for this day,
and let your joy hold me steady.