Webster’s Dictionary defines hope as “a feeling that what is wanted will happen; a
desire accompanied by expectation”. Feelings
are emotions that we have when we analyze our circumstances. They change as our
situation changes or as our perspective alters. Desires also change because of
many different factors. So even though we have expectation that they will come
to pass, we are still left to wrestle with which desires we really want and how
best to make them a reality. I have lots of desires…for myself, my family, my
friends, …but there is very little expectation that they will all be fulfilled.
When I cling to Webster’s definitions, “hope”
seems pretty variable & inconsistent. That doesn’t sound like a
characteristic God would want to develop in us.
The world would tell us that hope is
like positive thinking…you wish and speak and act as if something is going to
come to be & then it will! You just
have to deter negative emotional reactions & anxious thoughts. Look on the positive…reach for the stars…your
dreams are out there – go get them (as a local insurance company encourages us
to do). In fact, I read a very popular
book a few years ago that promised me that the universe is just waiting for me
to get the right frame of mind so that it can grant all of my desires! Sounds
amazing but in the midst of a struggle, positive thinking is hard to do &
results are rarely instantaneous, universe at my service or not! Sure, I’d like to have a magic lamp to rub in
a hardship so that my problems would instantly be solved as my wishes are granted,
but in spite of the way many Christians pray, God is not our genie and He doesn’t
live to grant out petty desires. He has such greater, more intricate plans than
we do!
God does tell us to hope in Him. What
does that mean? It means that we lay our lives at His feet, struggles &
victories, and we surrender to His plan. We have to realize that the outcome
that He is working toward is not our comfort or convenience but our maturity
& obedience. Our hope is not in our gifts or even our manipulations but in
Him – His abilities, characteristics, & attributes. He is not dependent on
anyone or anything other than Himself, & He has it all figured out. We can
HOPE in the fact that victory, rather than just success, will come & He is
powerful enough to even incorporate my failures into the plan so that there’s
never a need for Plan B.
No matter what your circumstances or
situation, HOPE in God. Believe that He has your best interest foremost in His
heart. Surrender to His will, knowing that He has ordained only that which
leads to Your best, whether you see it or not. Refuse to allow negative energy,
emotions, or thoughts to drag your spirit into a state of fear, doubt, anger or
unbelief. Wait, watch, & anticipate with expectation of Victory!! He really
can do more than we could ever ask or think (Eph. 3:20!)
Faith, HOPE, & love – the triad
of God’s desire for us! That kind of hope is the only kind that should &
will “spring eternal”. The question is just whether you will allow it to spring
eternal in you!
Blessings…
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