"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13, NIV)
Hope? What is Hope? Hope is a profound and optimistic anticipation or expectation of a positive outcome or a better future. It's a belief or feeling that something desired or wished for can happen or will be fulfilled.
This is a very nice definition when read on the screen of a device. But, Dear Reader, let's be honest - the state of our world at the moment does not easily lend itself to hope, does it?
We hear of all the negative things happening in our world.
I wonder how many of us struggle with a sense of hopelessness about the world in which we live.
- How are we going to feed the growing population of the world?
- How are we going to house the growing number of homeless?
- How are we going to heal a sick environment?
- How are we going stop the war and strife in various parts of our world?
These and many other factors certainly serve to fuel a growing sense of hopelessness among many in the world today.
Hope, however, is a powerful thing. Hope is trusting that things will work out, even when you can’t see how it’s possible.
“There is no medicine like hope . . .” (O.S. Marsden)
“There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something better tomorrow.” (G. K. Chesterton)
“Hope is a thing with feathers,/That perches in the soul.”(Emily Dickinson)
“Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.”(Martin Luther)
The dictionary defines hope: “to have a wish to get or do something or for something to happen or be true, especially something that seems possible or likely.”
That’s pretty much the world’s understanding of hope, isn’t it.
- A wish;
- a longing for something that may or may not take place.
However, Biblical hope is very different!
- Biblical hope is “A deep settled confidence that God will keep His promises!”
- Biblical hope is a “joyful, confident expectation”.
That’s the beauty of Advent. That’s why Advent is so important. Advent proclaims the promise that the light of God has broken into the darkness of our world. We are reminded that this hope of which we speak is wrapped up in a person – the person of our Lord Jesus Christ
No, Dear Reader,
- we don’t know how all the hungry will be fed, but we hold onto hope.
- We don’t know how peace will come to this world, but we hold onto hope.
- We don’t know how poverty will end, but we hold onto hope.
But, as someone once said - “we can afford to hold onto hope because ultimately hope holds onto us. Jesus holds onto us.”
This hope is not an abstract idea; this hope has got a face; this hope has got a name. His Name is Jesus, the giver of hope, Hope itself; Hope personified. Breaking through the darkest of nights is the light of hope, because unto you, unto me,
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Points to Ponder
What does hope mean to you? Do you truly believe that tomorrow can and will be a better day?
If yes, what is the basis of your hope? If no, what do you think is needed to re-ignite that spark of hope for you once more?
Prayer
Lord God, giver of life and love,
You are my hope and stay;
Help me hold on, despite the storm,
Stand strong in faith, come what may.