Hope Remains
Wednesday Poetry Club
Hello!
My name is Tanner. I am an author, spoken word poet, and speaker. Every week I (try to) share a few hopeful poems, prayers, and reflections. If you enjoy the words I share, I’d love to have you support this ministry at the monthly, annual, or founding member level.
Before we get to the poems …
This past week, I was in Texas sharing poetry alongside singer/songwriter Matt Doering. Together, we host evenings of music and poetry—something we call The Slow Down. We created these gatherings to be hopeful and restful—90 minutes of stillness, reflection, and quiet inspiration.
Next we are heading to Wisconsin. Check dates here.
Today’s writings are about hope.
The other day, I took Judah to get his haircut, and the barber and I started talking about what I do for work. I told him I was an author, poet, and speaker. He asked what I mostly shared about.
“Hope,” I said.
He smiled.
“And when people ask you to define hope, what do you tell them?” He asked.
I told him, “Hope is the full assurance that God is with us in this—whatever our ‘this’ is.” Then I added, “Hope reminds us that one day, everything is going to be okay, even if everything isn’t okay today.”
I love talking about hope, but more than that, I love living it. Hope is that quiet whisper, that gentle reminder that the way things are is not the way they will always be. Change is coming. Good is on its way. The darkness doesn’t win.
Hope changes everything. Maybe that’s why I travel all over the country to speak about it. Maybe that’s why I try to fill Substack—and every little corner of the internet I can—with this word.
Hope is not soft.
Hope is not fragile.
Hope is not shy.
Hope is resilient.
Hope is fierce.
Hope revives.
Hope restores.
Hope renews.
Hope reminds us that even when it feels like the end, a new beginning is already on its way.
Hope Remains
When the world feels loud
and your heart feels tired,
remember:
you don’t have to carry it all.
Open your hands.
Let go of what you cannot control.
Drop what is weighing you down
and let the Shepherd lead—
not in a hurry,
but step by step,
beside still waters,
through quiet fields,
even through shadows
you don’t understand.
Do what’s easier said than done:
breathe deep, let go,
and trust He is with you.
Even when it feels
like everything might fall apart,
Hope remains—
because that’s what Hope does.
In the heavy and the holy,
in the quiet worry,
in the hidden ache,
Hope remains.
So let your shoulders fall,
let your soul breathe.
Let peace come softly,
not as a sudden fix,
but as a gentle reminder:
you are not forgotten.
And as you follow—
slowly, honestly,
one step at a time,
you will find:
you don’t have to carry it all.
Hope remains.
Remain
A page from Walk A Little Slower
Remain for another day.
Remain with a hope that remains.
Remain to work through the shame.
Remain to fight through the pain.
It’s okay to sit with the pain.
To wonder how and why.
To not know what comes next.
Or when to take another step.
And hear me say that’s okay.
Our pain needs time.
And our pain needs another by our side.
And our pain is not the end.
But our pain needs time to mend.
And we have time.
And we have each other.
It’s okay to sit with the pain
because I know hope remains.
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What is Wednesday Poetry Club?
Wednesday Poetry Club is for poets, readers, and anyone who loves language. It lives entirely on Substack. Every Wednesday, poems are shared, inspiration is sparked, and a sense of community grows.
A few things to clarify about Wednesday Poetry Club:
Some have asked, what time on Wednesday does Poetry Club meet?
There is no time. You just share a poem on Wednesday.
There is no meeting. You just share a poem on Wednesday.
So, it’s really simple?
Yes, we don’t have to complicate everything. Just share a poem and tell people you’re part of a poetry club that shares poetry on Wednesdays.
The whole point of the Wednesday Poetry Club is to write and share poetry. On Wednesday’s we want to flood Substack with poems! So, if you care about poetry and want to be part of something creative and meaningful, you are part of the club.
How do people know I am part of the Wednesday Poetry Club?
We have some logos you can add to your posts or images to show you're part of the club. You can also include this line in your post:
“On Wednesdays, a group of writers share their poems as part of the Wednesday Poetry Club.”
You can also make it part of your Subtitle in your post.
Something like, “Wednesday Poetry Club.”
So it’s really simple?
Yes. Maybe too simple.
Does it cost money?
No. Who has money? It’s free to join and participate. We do have merch, but anyone can just be part of the Wednesday Poetry Club.
How do I join?
Write a poem. Share it on Wednesday. Post in here on Substack. Mention that you’re part of the Wednesday Poetry Club. Tag me if you’d like. Add the logo to your post. Tell people about the club. That’s all it takes. You’re in. You might be writing on your own, but you’re not doing it alone.
What if I miss a Wednesday?
That’s totally okay. This is about showing up when you can and letting poetry be a joy, not a burden. But if you write a poem, why not share it on Wednesday?
Why Wednesdays?
Remember in Mean Girls, when they said, “On Wednesdays, we wear pink”? Well, on Wednesdays we share poems. It’s just what we do. You can wear pink if you’d like.
Also, it’s the middle of the week a little poetry pick-me-up might be just what we need.
So — want in?
Next Steps
Download the logos.
Share about the Wednesday Poetry Club on your Notes.
Grab some merch.
And as always … go write some poetry.
I love reading your poems. They are so encouraging.
I needed these poems on hope today! Thank you