For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Romans 8:24-25

If you think about it, hope is a critical element of the nonprofit sector; Imagine an entire sector formed because of hope. Most nonprofits begin because someone has hope for a better world. Their vision catches on, others participate, and the birth of a nonprofit occurs. On the backend, some nonprofits fizzle out because the founder goes alone; They choose to not share the workload and the founder tends for the vision as if they are the only ones who can have that hope. Other nonprofits fade as the vision isn’t realized quick enough. In either case, it seems to me you can’t have hope without a bit of patience. 

The last sentence of Romans 8:25 catches my attention in these moments of quick startups and quick failures: “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (emphasis mine). Patience trails hope. And patience comes from waiting. 

Once a vision for the future comes to a person, it’s hard to not wait. The initial rush of energy is exciting, and yet, without patience, will falter. It’s in the waiting that the founder and the organization matures to be patient in seeing hope come to fruition. In other words, hope and patience come as a pair. 

Confession: I’ve fallen to the trap of having hope without patience. I started this blog in 2011 and was diligent on posting regularly. Then, a pause of years as my hope faded. Then, I picked it back up, posting weekly. While I’m grateful for what I’ve learned and been able to share, it’s time to scale back. My hope in helping the nonprofit sector be better by using Biblical principles remains, but I must wait and be patient in realizing that dream. I, too, must understand that hope and patience are not far from each other. 

Therefore, I’ll still post on this blog useful and practical tips on how to apply verses from the Bible to regular, daily life for those who work, volunteer, and lead a nonprofit. It won’t be weekly. It will be once a month (first Tuesday of every month). 

And for those who subscribe, thank you. It’s your subscription that helps me get closer to publishing my next project (a devotional for women who lead in the nonprofit sector and do not hold the title of leader). You’ll see less of me in your inbox with intention to push the project along quicker. 

So, in the end, this blog post may be just for me, but I hope you received something of value from my words. And, thanks in advance for being patient for upcoming posts.

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© 2022, Mollie Bond. All rights reserved. Originally published at www.molliebond.org.