Hope Rising 365 is a recent yearlong devotional book for women and young women offering advice and inspiration for every day. Author Meg Cannon, a spoken word artist and presenter, enlists female voices within the fields of youth and student ministries to share their experiences and wisdom in addition to contributing her own. Christian Today spoke with Meg to seek out out more concerning the inspiration behind the book and what being rooted in hope looks like.
Why did you choose on the title Hope Rising 365?
I work in secondary schools every week with girls and young women doing workshops and assemblies, and I see a definite lack of hope. The reason for the title of the book is that I would like to see hope rise within the lives of ladies and young women across the UK and further afield. It’s great to listen to that the book has also been translated into German and Dutch too. It has felt like such an incredible opportunity to share the hope that God offers with a generation who need encouragement and to know how much they’re loved.
The book talks rather a lot about well-being. What does well-being seem like for you as a Christian?
The Children’s Society recently released its Good Childhood report, and 12 months on 12 months they’re finding that UK kid’s well-being is in decline. When we compare it to other countries in Europe, the UK has the bottom average overall life satisfaction amongst 15 12 months olds, which is admittedly sad.
Well-being, essentially, is how people feel and the way they function on a private and social level – how they feel about their lives as an entire. I’d say evaluating our lives from a Christian perspective is taking a look at how God defines us and who God says we’re. Often young individuals are evaluating their lives in light of social media. I feel wellbeing from a Christian perspective is knowing that we’re known and loved by God, and that we do not need to be afraid. He has given us a spirit of affection, power and sound mind.
The book is filled with great life advice for young people. What is the most effective piece of life advice you’ve got been given?
On my first day in 12 months 7, my mum told me to look out for the one that looks alone and go and speak to that person. I carry that with me wherever I’m going, regardless that it may well be daunting talking to people you do not know. I attempt to look out for the one that is alone and I feel Jesus would also do this. We explore friendship and kindness in our assemblies and workshops because broken friendships are time and time again a extremely painful reality for many ladies.
The book emphasises each girl’s uniqueness. What work must be done to encourage women and young girls to stop aspiring to achieve a beauty standard that’s unattainable?
I feel it starts at a grassroots level, one-on-one mother and daughter or a youth employee with a woman or in a bunch setting. I feel there may be a lot power in giving girls space to speak and share what is occurring in youth culture and to open up. I recently did a workshop on self-esteem in a secondary school and one girl specifically was incredibly emotional concerning the way she sees herself. She recognised that she was comparing herself to what she sees online and he or she doesn’t feel ok.
It’s heart-breaking but it surely’s so essential to facilitate conversations after which help girls to challenge negative thought patterns in addition to unpicking a few of society’s pressures and sweetness standards. If I can assist girls and young women to know their value and potential then I’m glad at the top of the day. I also think we want to hope for them day by day since it is hard. The more I find out about what girls and young women are facing, the more I feel the necessity to pray for them and stand alongside them.
I’d love every girl to have Hope Rising 365 on their bedside table. I wrote the book that I actually needed after I was a young person, and I feel the book would have made a giant difference to me.
There is a segment called ‘Turning worry into prayer’ by which you talk about your individual experience of turning your worry list into your prayer list. Do you continue to proceed to practice this? If so, what impact has it had?
I will be quite a worrier, I get pretty anxious about things. When I feel myself getting overwhelmed by work and motherhood I realise now that I actually have to put in writing it down since it gets an excessive amount of in my head. It just overwhelms me, so now after I get to the state of feeling like I’m struggling, I’ll write the things which can be on my mind after which pray through the list and provides it to God. It’s been a fantastic practice for me because all those things are not any longer rushing around my head but down in front of me where I can see them, that is after I can say ‘God it’s greater than I feel like I can deal with, I give all this stuff over to you’.
What advice would you give to young girls who want to start out their journey in the religion?
I’d say three things. Firstly, get a Bible and begin with the Gospels – learning about Jesus and his life in order that we will be more like him is a fantastic place to start out. Secondly, try prayer. It will be so simple as ‘God I’m here, what do you wish to say to me today?’ or ‘God I’m struggling, would you meet with me?’. I’d also really encourage a recent Christian to seek out a church, because being in community with people who find themselves like-minded is essential.
What reception has the book had since it has been released?
It’s so lovely to often be contacted by individuals who have found the book helpful and provoking. In fact, I heard a story recently a couple of girl who was hospitalised for an eating disorder. She spent quite some time within the priory and when she left home they said she could take little or no together with her. Someone gave her a replica of Hope Rising 365 and he or she contacted me to say how helpful it was during her time there and the way much it encouraged her. For me, that makes all of it value it.
Scripture runs through the book. How has it been received amongst non- believers?
I gave a book to my neighbour and I do not think she has any faith background, but she wrote a card to say how she reads it day-after-day and it gives her hope which is great. Wherever I’m going I actually have a few copies with me and I give them to the faculties that I work in. I heard from a teacher recently who saw one among the scholars had taken it out of the library and was reading it. That’s really exciting to me! I hope that is making a difference and helps individuals who haven’t any faith background to know that they’re created and loved and there may be hope for the longer term in a society that always feels hopeless. I’m so keen about the impact that knowing and following Jesus can have in your life. I actually have been in a valley over the past few years because of trauma, but what I cling onto is the hope that Jesus brings. Nothing else can satisfy and I actually consider that.
Hope Rising 365 is out now from SPCK priced £14.99.
