Brooklyn Pratts opened with a powerful message during 5 Minutes of Fire, focusing on Hebrews 11:1 and how faith is the assurance of things hoped for. She shared the story of Moses at the Red Sea, where he faced an impossible situation with the Egyptians behind him and the sea ahead. Even when Moses didn’t know what to ask for, God moved in a miraculous way, splitting the sea to fulfill Moses’s hope. Brooklyn reminded us that hope rooted in God is never in vain because He alone is capable of fulfilling our deepest needs.

Pastor Tom followed with an inspiring message about the action of hope. He explained that faith and hope go hand in hand—faith is our confidence in what we hope for, and hope is what motivates us to keep trusting in God. Though we can’t physically see God, faith helps us recognize His presence everywhere, shifting our perspective to focus on the positive even in challenging circumstances.

Tom contrasted worldly optimism with biblical hope, which doesn’t rely on our own positivity but on God’s promises. He encouraged the congregation to trust that God always has our best interests in mind, even when we can only see a few steps ahead.

The story of Mary, the mother of Jesus, beautifully illustrated the difficulty and reward of hopeful action. When Mary received the news that she would give birth to Jesus, she was filled with joy but also faced uncertainty and waiting. Hope can feel challenging in seasons of hardship, but Mary’s story reminds us that God’s plan is always worth trusting.

Tom shared examples of perseverance through hope:

• Thomas Carlyle, who lost his manuscript for The French Revolution in a fire, found the strength to rewrite it brick by brick, inspired by construction workers he observed.
• Dennis Byrd, an NFL player who broke his neck and faced paralysis, proclaimed his faith, saying, “I came into the NFL as a young Christian man, and I’m leaving as a young Christian man.”

These stories remind us that hope doesn’t eliminate challenges but empowers us to overcome them.

Tom concluded with a call to action: Hope is a choice, and grumbling is easy, but true hope comes from placing our trust in Jesus. No matter what weighs on your heart, God is present and ready to give you peace and confidence. The action of hope starts with faith, and it transforms everything.

Isaiah 40:31
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Romans 5:1-3
Peace and Hope
5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;