Hope

Hope. That word seems to be heard often this time of year. 

We have just experienced the “Season of Joy; with all its “Merry” and find ourselves turning attention toward a new year.  Each of us have wishes, desires or a yearning for what we would like this coming year to hold.    

Hope.  To wish; to desire; to want; optimism; rosiness; a longing; a yearning; an ambition.

Hopes.  We’ve all use that word in facing what the future may hold.  For some it may be transformation or change; for others it may be healing; it could be a success of some kind; or simply what one perceives may bring happiness.  But wishing or wanting doesn’t always make it so.

This may lead to times when one is ‘afraid to hope’.  Perhaps there is dread or fear that what you are longing for – healing of illness or disease; repair of a broken relationship; achieving financial success, notoriety or status; or obtaining a material item anticipating happiness – won’t be gained or achieved. Yet there is still a clinging to that mere possibility with the ‘hope against hope’ despite having doubt or knowledge that something is not likely.  In many ways the foundation of one’s such hope lies in a feeling or belief that whether or not the wish is brought to fruition is largely dependent on the amount or strength of the person’s hope. One strives to be able to maintain optimism in the face of the unlikely or to keep up the illusion of a rosy outlook for the wish/desire despite circumstance.  It is presumed that if you have enough hope – if you truly are ‘hopeful’– it might just happen.  Anything is supposed to be possible if you choose to hope.

As I stood still with the word hope I discovered that the true meaning of hope comes from the word ‘elpis’ - the primary ‘elpo’ which is rooted differently from today’s ‘hoping’, desiring or wishing.

HOPE.  Trust; confidence; rely; an expectation of what is sure or certain. 

Having HOPE is actually having an expectation with the confidence and the reliance that it will come to past in with certainty.  You trust it will happen not just wish for it.

And here’s the beauty of real HOPE.  It’s the Christmas ‘Season of Joy’ -  the babe in the manger, Emanuel - that leads to our new year’s ‘Season of HOPE’. 

The key to HOPE’s confidence and trust is that it is not reliance on the what we are hoping for but rather in whom we are hoping.  You see, circumstance can be beyond our control.  As a human being our strength (of mind, body or spirit) may not be sustainable, may wane or have limits.  All of which may dim our hope.  Hope that something will occur or be had simply by desiring it often will lead to disappointment.

Martin Luther King Jr once stated “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”  As I’ve walked through this earthly journey, I’ve painfully learned my wishing, desiring, wanting…  my hoping… is finite and actually quite limited in its effect.  But I’ve also learned that HOPE – sustainable HOPE – HOPE that is had and maintained despite circumstance – HOPE that goes beyond understanding that brings peace which guards our hearts and minds – is only possible when it is placed in the Infinite One – Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father., the Prince of Peace.  With confidence and certainty, I know my needs will be met, that outcomes will strengthen me and even the darkest of circumstance hold blessings.

It is my prayer that you may HOPE confidently with reliance and trust as you step into the year ahead.

ISAIAH 40:31  Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  The will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  

Romes 15:13  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.

Hebrew 11:1  Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Romans 5:3-5  We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us because God's love has been poured into our heart through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.