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My last post was about love in the “Faith, Hope, and Love trilogy from the book of Corinthians. This week I want to talk about hope.
In the movie Shawshank Redemption, Morgan Freeman’s character, Red, proclaimed that “Hope is a very dangerous thing.” The Word of God, however, says something very different. It tells us that hope in the Lord is a thing to be desired. Hopelessness is what is dangerous to the human soul.
Happy is he that has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.
Psalm 146:5
What exactly is hope?
Hope is the feeling of looking forward to something better in our life. It can also be the willful anticipation that certain bad things never happen. Hope is powerful because it motivates us to pursue goals and dreams. If we believe we can achieve something, we will work towards it. But if we don’t believe in our chances, we are more likely to give up.
Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there’s no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic
Laini Taylor
In the 1900s, the Soviet Union took over a large part of Europe. Under their communist government, everyone was paid the same, regardless of their job. There was little opportunity for progress, no matter how well someone performed. As a result, the country’s productivity declined significantly. Without hope, there is no motivation.
I visited Ukraine in the 1990s, after the Soviet Union broke up and can testify that their technology was very outdated. The pay phones were old-fashioned, and everything seemed stuck in the 1940s.
What does hope give us?
According to the Harvard Medical School, hope gives us a better sense of well-being. We’re happier and have more energy when we have positive thoughts of achieving a worthwhile goal or are looking forward to something exciting.
We cope better with the ups and downs of everyday life when we realize that downturns are temporary and we look forward to a brighter day.
A hopeful person engages better with others. When we are depressed, we tend to go into a shell and not want to associate with others. This breeds even more loneliness and depression.
Those with hope engage in more healthy behaviors. I’m currently on a diet to lose weight. I can continually follow my healthy eating plan as long as the weight is coming off. But if I reach a plateau, I begin to lose hope of reaching my goal and tend to go back to more unhealthy foods or eat more than I should. When I lose hope in reaching my goal, I want to quit.
Hope increases creativity. When we believe in the possibility of positive change, we are more likely to think creatively and explore new possibilities.
Those with hope possess a higher sense of self-esteem, a greater sense of purpose, and even improved relationships. Through hope, we develop both maturity and resilience.
Hope gives us courage. We can fight any battle; if we believe we can win.
The opposite of hope
Despair, or hopelessness, is one of the most dangerous conditions known to man. It can lead to unproductivity, loneliness, depression, or suicide.
Proverbs says that Hope deferred makes the heart sick: but when the desire comes , it is a tree of life (Proverbs 13:12.)
Another stark reality I witnessed while visiting on our first trip to Ukraine in the 90s was the look of hopelessness on the faces of the people. In America, everyone laughed and talked, and generally seemed happy, but these faces were incredibly solemn. It seemed as if people were just existing – going about their daily lives with little emotion. We were able to go back four times, and each time we could see more light in their eyes as they began to have hope for a better world.
The best hope of all
The Gospel Message of Hope Triumphs Over the World’s Message of Hopelessness, a blog by Sarah Holliday, shows precisely the difference between those who have hope in the Lord and those who don’t. She tells the story of Will Traynor as told in the book Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. Will was left paralyzed from a motorcycle accident and had never been able to cope with his new reality, even though he and his caregiver had eventually fallen in love. Love, although the greatest of attributes, wasn’t enough for Will. Since he had no hope of getting back to his old life, he sadly committed assisted suicide amidst his lover’s pleas not to go through with it.
In contrast, is Joni Eareckson Tada who, at 17, broke her neck while diving into the Chesapeake Bay. She became paralyzed from the shoulders down and has lived the last 55 years in chronic pain.
She, too, was angry, depressed, and hopeless at first. But some loving Christian friends urged her to fix her eyes on Jesus. Jesus gave her hope that the world could not. She went on to become a famous artist, speaker, best-selling author, speaker, and ministry leader and businesswoman.
The only difference between these two scenarios is that one found hope in Jesus and one did not.
Dealing with Hopelessness
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said that we can only see the stars when it is dark enough. Life is full of ups and downs, but it is during the difficult times that we should look for the stars. It is when we are dissatisfied with something that we find the motivation to make positive changes.
There’s a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.
Leonard Cohen
If you’re feeling hopeless, remember that your mood can change and it will change over time. Our moods often change many times in a single day.
How to have more hope
1. Get creative
In a time of destruction create something
Maxine Hong Kingston
We are all creators because we were created in the image of God. If you feel sad, don’t just stay still, take action! Even doing a small thing to support your cause will bring hope and rekindle your motivation to move forward. If you’re feeling alone, reach out to someone. If you’re upset with yourself for overeating, go for a walk.
2. Make a positive statement
The apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians advises us to think about true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy things. In other words, he encourages us to have positive thoughts. Moreover, offering a prayer of thanksgiving to God, no matter how small, can instantly uplift our spirits.
3. Set challenging but reasonable goals
Goals give us purpose and direction in life. As we enter a new year, it’s a good time to think about what we want to achieve in 2024 and beyond. Take a moment to write down a goal that is challenging enough to motivate you, but still within reach. Once you have your goal, make a plan by breaking it down into smaller, actionable steps. By following this plan, you’ll have hope and be on your way to achieving your goal.
Hope is life
Anne Frank once said, “Where there’s hope, there’s life.” Despite the dangers she faced during the war and her tragic death at a young age in a concentration camp, her writings continue to be read by many today. Anne had a dream of becoming a journalist and wanted to bring joy and usefulness to people she had never met. Today, her goal lives on, and she has indeed left a lasting impact even after her passing.
Where there’s hope there’s life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again.
Anne Frank
May hope wholly abide in you this holiday season. After all, Jesus came as the hope of the World. He’s always near. Sometimes we just have to look for Him.
| But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more |
