Here’s a shortened, tighter version while keeping the heart of your message:

This message reminds us that hope isn’t just an idea—it’s a person, Jesus. Romans 5 teaches that suffering produces perseverance, character, and a Spirit-given hope that never disappoints. This sermon explores how biblical hope transforms us from the inside out, reshaping our nature as new creations in Christ. Through stories—from patiently untangling Christmas lights to parents who “leaked” hope even at their daughter’s funeral—we see what it looks like to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. The imagery of trees—Lebanon’s cedars and the Tree of Life—shows that hope has always been God’s plan. We’re challenged to activate our faith, stay rooted in God’s Word, and become people who overflow with hope for a world that desperately needs it.