Christian Latina Leadership Blog

By: Nora O. Lozano

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As we close this year, different news networks have been reporting on the major issues of this year as well as the challenges for the upcoming 2026.

As I was watching CNN, the news anchor asked about the major challenges that we are facing today (I do not remember the specific show nor the names of the anchors or analysts). One of the analysts replied that we are struggling with the three H’s: Housing, Health care, and Higher education. She explained that these three issues are affecting the lives of citizens in the United States of America because people in this country are having a hard time with the rising costs of housing (mortgage or rent), health care, and higher education.

If you are a reader from another country, perhaps the three or four issues that you and your neighbors are struggling with are related to other situations that depend on your unique cultural contexts. That may be migration, violence, drug trafficking, gangs, feminicides, or some other important societal issue.

The fact is that all of us will face challenges during this new year 2026. They can be personal or societal.

Going back to my context in the United States of America. It happened to be that all these challenges start with the letter “H”. As I thought about this, I realized that one “H” is missing. It is the “H” for the word Hope.

In my life as a Christian and as a theologian, I have come to realize that hope is such an important and vital element in Christianity. In fact, hope is one of the marks of Christianity. As Christians, we hope to see again our loved ones in heaven; We hope for a better future; We hope that we will overcome our major issues; We hope that difficult relationships will become better; We hope that God will act on our behalf; We hope that our lives will be better because Jesus has promised us an abundant life starting here and now. I can go on and on mentioning how Christianity and hope are so intertwined.

In his essay about Hope, SH Travis mentions that: “To hope means to look forward expectantly for God’s future activity. The ground of hope is God’s past activity in Jesus Christ, who points the way to God’s purposes for his creation” (New Dictionary of Theology, p. 321).

If the ground of the Christian’s hope is based on God’s work as modeled by Jesus Christ, then we should have peace when thinking about what 2026 will bring regardless of what the news networks are saying that is going to happen. We can trust that 2026 is going to be a good year because we know that God has a good plan for us. Now, this does not mean necessarily that we will have an easy year. We may face some difficulties and challenges this year, but the good news is that we will not face them alone because God is always with us.

As Christian leaders, we need to embrace and live this hope that affirms that God is always with us and that God has a good plan for us. This hope should be a mark of our lives as leaders.

Furthermore, as Christian leaders who live in this hope, we must be like Jesus, bearers of this hope. We need to share it in all our circles of influence: family, church, and community. As we think about sharing this hope, let’s go beyond words and ideas, and let’s also live in a way that mirrors Jesus’ life. He connected all his actions to God’s purposes and plans.

As 2026 arrives with all its potential struggles, let’s remember the fourth H – Hope. While the panorama according to the news may look difficult and grim, let’s rejoice that we have a hope that involves a future marked by God’s presence and good plans.

Considering this, let’s enter the new year with hope, trusting the one who holds the future.

Happy and blessed New Year to you and your loved ones!