Where Hope Grows, the Future Blooms

Where Hope Grows, the Future Blooms

It is good and wise to think of a better future—and to rejoice now in the love of God.

I often hear advice from psychologists encouraging us to “live in the present” or “be here now.” This kind of thinking aims to reduce stress, calm worries, and build resilience. It teaches us not to dwell on the past or fret about tomorrow but to find peace in the moment.

But living in the present isn’t the only valuable way to live. Others advise us to dream about the future, to set goals, to plan ahead. Visualization and future-thinking have their own strengths. It doesn’t have to be either/or. God gave the human mind a wonderful flexibility: we can live fully in the moment and wisely prepare for the future.

In fact, psychologists have developed something called Future-Directed Therapy—a method that helps people envision and plan for better days ahead. Worrying about the future, they point out, is pointless and often leads to anxiety and depression. But planning for the future can be hopeful, healing, and life-giving.

I recently came across an article from Psychology Today titled, Why Thinking About the Future Makes Your Life Better Now. It explains that when you visualize meaningful goals, you create what psychologists call psychological distance—a tool that helps you rise above short-term impulses and focus on long-term rewards.
This ability to mentally “step back” connects you to your deeper values and your true purpose. It fosters what scholars call eudaimonic well-being—the kind of lasting happiness rooted in growth, meaning, and fulfillment.

"When you visualize meaningful goals, you create something called psychological distance—a tool that helps you rise above short-term impulses and focus on long-term rewards."
— Trope & Liberman, 2010, Psychological Review

The studies show that future-thinking isn’t just about dreaming, it’s about building. It’s about becoming the person God is calling you to be.

As we search for enlightenment, as we seek God, we move toward life’s greatest happiness.

Some voices today claim that happiness is overrated—or even wrong for Christians to pursue. They say that seeking happiness is selfish or worldly. But that’s not necessarily true. People often say things about the Bible that the Bible doesn’t actually say.

Here’s what Scripture tells us:

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
— Romans 15:13

Joy. Peace. Hope. These are not side effects—they are gifts from God Himself.

God desires your true happiness, not a shallow happiness rooted in possessions or comfort, but a deep, enduring joy rooted in trust, hope, and love.
The future is beautiful because it belongs to God.
The future is beautiful because it holds the fulfillment of every good thing He has promised.

So today, live in the present with gratitude.
And dream boldly about the future with hope.
Because in God's hands, your future is not something to fear,
it is something to celebrate.

"Lord, fill our hearts with hope. Teach us to live wisely in the present while trusting you with our future. Help us to dream, to build, and to rejoice in the beauty of the life you have prepared for us. Amen."