Hope

               

‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.’
Prov 13:12

There is a difference between hope and dreaming. One can dream of seeing the stars in space, but most people don’t hope to actually do it.  

Hope is not a passive thing – it is an active function. It is an invisible rope one holds to a future they are yet to see, in the hope of drawing it near. Without hope, one cannot have faith, as faith is the very substance of the things we hope for. (Hebrews 11.1) It is the ability to stand on what may seem to some as an abstract concept – the loving kindness of a God who moves on our behalf. If hope and expectation of God’s activity becomes nothing but a dream of God’s activity, then we have made our loving Father out to be a distant deity who is indifferent to our world. While in our mind we may know the truth, sometimes we must strengthen ourselves in God and renew our hope. (1 Samuel 30:6)

When we become impoverished for an extended period of time, we change the things that we truly hope for. Good things, things that others consider normal: health, healthy marriages, employment, wholesome food, functioning families, good and normal things to desire, but they are unknowingly relegated to the things of dreams. The consistency of disappointment has brought upon the deferment of hope and – whether they know it or not – hearts are sick. Our hope is surviving the next day, going from meal to meal; and that can be a very hard cycle to break especially when it becomes a generational norm.

Sometimes, too, it is something that we heard God promise us a long time ago, but we have lost hope that it will ever come to fruition. Truly, I believe God plays the long game with His promises sometimes: it may not be time to give up your hope.

Fair and right is not a natural function of the world we live in. It is something that exists in the hearts of people and our hope alone. That does not make it a pipe dream, it is something that we, people, God’s people, should stand for and be agents of. That is true of our own world as much as it is of our neighbours, our nations and even, through mercy, our enemies. I do believe that we all should hope for a level of prosperity in our lives (although I do not personally believe that always equates to great wealth).

Hope is important, and it can be revived. Too many lives are wasted by people who have realised they have been without hope for too long and don’t know how to find it again. It’s never too late to start. There are phone lines with people who can speak with you. There are counsellors and pastors too. Speak with people who can pray with you – or just go to God yourself and ask – knowing He hears you.

While you draw breath, it is still time for hope. Some of the greatest testimonies have great pits of despair on the way to their personal victory. 

I hope that encourages you.

‘My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.’
James 1:2-6 (NKJV)