An Invitation of Hope to Consider

As we prepare to step into a new year, there is an invitation within Ignatian spirituality to gather the graces of where we have been. Our Into the Deep theme of hope in 2025, inspired by the Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope, offered me an abundance of prayerful encounters in so many forms.

The authors began the year by naming the graces they desired as they shared their reflections for The Hope I Seek. I was challenged to name to God where I needed hope in my life. I entered Lent drawing graces from the promises found within the Beatitudes of Hope. Easter and the Resurrection gifted me with the writers’ stories of Lived Hope. Pentecost focused my attention to finding Hope in Listening to the Spirit. The Witness of Hope series offered me inspiration in places where hope can be hard to find. Anchors of Hope grounded me with tools to remain rooted in my relationship with God. The final series, Hope Carried to Others, brought me into Advent and the invitation of extending the hope I find in Emmanuel— “God with Us”—to others.

Savoring all these graces of hope, I am excited to share our new theme, “Consider This”—noticing God’s presence in our lives through a variety of encounters, moving us deeper into understanding our relationship with God. The theme is inspired by the Prayer of Consideration, a contemplative prayer posture that turns us toward God throughout our day.

I invite you to look within the new theme and to walk with me alongside our writers throughout the year, as they share personal experiences, insights, Ignatian wisdom, and encounters with God. Together we will consider

• Encountering God
• Encountering the Pain of the Cross
• Encountering Christ in the Gospels
• Encountering Christ in Others
• Encountering Holy Desire
• Encountering Freedom through Christ
• Encountering Wisdom
• Encountering Wonder and Awe

The 2026 Into the Deep blog theme, “Consider This”, is an invitation to pause, to pay attention, and to encounter God in the ordinary and extraordinary moments.

Each reflection offers an opportunity for you to notice where the same grace or wisdom might be at work in your own life. Whether it is a Scripture passage, a piece of Ignatian wisdom, a small moment of life, or a question to carry into the week, “Consider This” encourages you to engage your heart, mind, and spirit in prayerful reflection.

I pray the words from our authors’ hearts and the resources shared within each post capture your attention and position your heart toward God. The “Going Deeper” section each week provides added wisdom and opportunities for you to enhance your prayer life.

My hope is that this theme will guide us into a year of meaningful discernment, encounter, and spiritual growth. I hope as you read and pray with the reflections, you are encouraged to pause and ask: Where is God inviting me to notice God’s presence today? How might God be speaking in the ordinary moments of life?

I also hope you will share your reflections with us. What do you notice about God’s work in your own life? Your noticings—small or profound—help this community witness together the ways God moves in the world and among us.

May this year of considering draw us all closer to the Lord, helping us see his hand in every moment, every encounter, and every choice.

Going Deeper:

• What are your gathered graces from the 2025’s Into the Deep theme of Hope?

• What is your experience with the Prayer of Consideration?

• Which upcoming series title for the new year captured your attention most?

• Check out our Founder Becky Eldredge’s new book, Encounter Grace and her invitation to each of us “to discover that God is not distant or reserved but present and waiting to meet us in the ordinary moments of our lives.”

• As always, we invite you to share in the comment section below whatever the Holy Spirit stirs in you as you recall the graces of this year’s theme of hope and look forward to the new theme of blog reflections.

Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash

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Michele Eickman

Michele has held a lifelong love for Christ and Christ’s transforming mission to love humanity. She has lived that mission through her primary vocation as a wife and mother. Out of desire to serve God with her grace-gifted abilities, she has also responded to the call of love through volunteerism and serving her local parish community for several years as Director of Faith Formation, leading families to an encounter with Christ in the Church and through the Sacraments. After being introduced to Ignatian Spirituality several years ago, her heart opened in a new way and the transforming love of God presented a new call to join the Ignatian Ministries team as the Executive Assistant and assist in leading people into deeper waters of faith. She is grateful to the call of Christ, to the people who have loved her well and walked along with her, and for the future of accompanying others in that love. She lives in Calhoun, GA with her husband Tim and daughter Annie, with three young adult children in college and beyond. They love being active together - through fitness, food, and travel.