Video | Hopeful Realism: A Theology for & of Resilience
May 22, 2026
In this lecture, Gordon T. Smith explores what it means to cultivate resilient hope in a world marked by anxiety, suffering, and uncertainty. Rejecting both toxic positivity and despair, he reflects on hope as an essential Christian practice—one that sustains individuals and equips communities to encourage others with wisdom, honesty, and courage.
According to theologian Gordon T. Smith, "Emil Brunner is surely right in his observation that hope is as essential to human functioning as oxygen to the lungs. We need to learn what it means to be a people of resilient hopefulness—turning from both toxic positivity and any proclivity we might have to despair. Only if we know how to keep hope alive in our own hearts can we give renewed hope and encouragement to others.”
This lecture is part of Regent's Evening Public Lecture series for Summer 2026. Visit rgnt.net/epl to learn more!