Here's how my mind works.

I drive a lot and I was talking to a friend who also drives a lot and I thought of saying "I pray for the day when we don't have to drive."

That got me thinking if I should exchange the word "pray" for "hope" since I neither prayed for her nor make it a regular habit of praying. As well, given my view that every prayer is to me, regardless of theological implication, a statement of hope or thanks, that word stands as a more consistent and coherent reflection of my views.

But then I noticed pray rhymed nicely with day.
And so I kept it.