A famous poem by Emily Dickinson describes hope as ‘the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul…’ The opening lines have been used on pillows, greeting cards and other forms of encouragement. It’s a nice sentiment, although I’ve never really understood the imagery. I guess a little bird singing to the soul is a positive image of keeping up a person’s spirits. This might be helpful for some people, but it’s not real hope. 

Real hope isn’t a feeling, a sentiment or a wish. Hope is a person – the person of Jesus. For thousands of years, he was the hope of Israel. The sacrifices, the prophecies and types of saviours throughout history all came to fruition with his birth. The light of the world – the hope of every human being – was born into this world. He is the real hope, the one in whom all of our dreams, expectations, desires and yearnings come true.

Over the years, people in terrible situations have kept going by holding on to the hope that things will get better, that there’s peace, redemption and freedom on the other side of their misery. For many, that hope was simply a bird perched in their souls, speaking to them of a better life, not knowing that little bird was actually the Holy Spirit singing to them of the one true hope of the world, Jesus the hope of all humanity. In him, we have true peace, redemption, freedom and so much more. And now, Christ in us, the hope of glory!

First published on 2 December 2025, at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com a personal blog which is not sponsored by Grace Communion International.

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