Skip to content

Hope is not dependent on peace in the land, justice in the…

“Hope is not dependent on peace in the land, justice in the world, and success in the business. Hope is willing to leave unanswered questions unanswered and unknown futures unknown. Hope makes you see God’s guiding hand not only in the gentle and pleasant moments but also in the shadows of…” quote by Henri J.M. Nouwen
Download Open image
““Hope is not dependent on peace in the land, justice in the world, and success in the business. Hope is willing to leave unanswered questions unanswered and unknown futures unknown. Hope makes you see God’s guiding hand not only in the gentle and pleasant moments but also in the shadows of disappointment and darkness. No one can truly say with certainty where he or she will be ten or twenty years from now. You do not know if you will be free or in captivity, if you will be honored or despised, if you will have many friends or few, if you will be liked or rejected. But when you hold lightly these dreams and fears, you can be open to receive every day as a new day and to live your life as a unique expression of God’s love for humankind. There is an old expression that says, “As long as there is life there is hope.” As Christians we also say, “As long as there is hope there is life.””

Henri J.M. Nouwen

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Hope persists despite uncertainty, allowing openness to God’s love in all circumstances, encouraging light‑heartedness toward future fears and dreams.

In simple terms: Hope lets you stay open to love and possibility.

Key Takeaway

Embrace uncertainty, trust in divine love.

Themes

faith hope uncertainty spirituality resilience

Mood

contemplative comforting

Type

spiritual inspirational

When to use this quote

  • daily prayer
  • counseling
  • grief support
  • life planning
  • community worship

Key Concepts

theology existentialism psychology of hope

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does hope look like in your daily actions?
  • How do you balance hope with realistic planning?
A Different Perspective

Hope can become passive if not paired with action; over‑reliance on hope may ignore practical preparation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Henri J.M. Nouwen

Explore all 115 Henri J.M. Nouwen quotes

More Business quotes

Browse all 39,016 Business quotes