The Rhythm of Hope

Hope Assembly
Sep 9
2 min read

We’ve all faced nights that felt too heavy to endure, moments when despair whispered louder than hope. But in his sermon, “I Spent the Night Dancing,” Dr. GreGory reminded us that those very nights can become the stage for our declaration of joy, trust, and victory in Christ.

What Does It Mean to Dance?

Dancing is more than movement. It is the holy language of the body, an expression of joy, victory, and the words we cannot say. Dancing becomes a declaration, not denial. It’s saying: “I’m coming out of this.”

When you dance through trials, you proclaim perseverance. A dancer is a person who refuses to surrender, who sees the good in life, who trains their eye to find the light even in darkness. To dance is to say with your whole being: Hope refuses to be still.

Who Are You Dancing With?

The sermon carried a powerful warning: If you dance with sin, it becomes the tango of temptation. If you hold hands with trauma, you’ll find yourself stuck in the cha-cha of chains. Pride turns into a solo salsa, and wounds can keep you trapped in a waltz of sorrow.

Dr. GreGory reminded us to use discernment in who we allow close. Only when we dance in step with God’s cadence do we truly move toward freedom.

Learning God’s Rhythm

Like the woman with the issue of blood, who reached for the hem of Jesus’ garment, we must learn the rhythm of God. She studied His movement and moved in faith, her dance of desperation became her dance of deliverance.

When we cast our cares on Him, we stop carrying what was never ours to bear. As Pastor said, “Delay is not denial. To everything, there is a season.”

Dancing Through the Night

Many of us know what it feels like to spend the night wrestling with hardship. But the sermon encouraged us to see it differently: “I spent the night dancing.” The night didn’t break you; it prepared you. That dance may be with wisdom, faith, trust, hope, or forgiveness. Each step is guided by the Master of Steps, for “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” (Psalm 37:23).

Put On the Garment of Praise

We were reminded not to let grudges or the weight of the past hold us back. Happiness is found in the will of God, and peace comes when we put on joy intentionally. Just like we clothe ourselves each morning with prayer, we must also clothe ourselves in praise.

Because dancing is not just about moving our feet. It’s about moving in faith, testifying that even after the storm, we are still standing, still worshiping, still declaring:

“I will not just be a hearer—I will be a doer. I will dance with the rhythm of hope. I’m coming out of this!”

Which “dance” do you most need in this season?