There have been several famous books about hope written within the past few years; none of which I have read, but when you take an honest look at the world around us it’s easy to see why this would be. If there is anything the inhabitants of this planet are in need of it is hope, and there are many in this world asking is there really any hope left?
Hope is the last thing to leave when trouble comes. It is the last positive element that an individual may have when their life has come completely unraveled. Even if someone has absolutely nothing going for them, if there is even a glimmer of reason to think that maybe things will one day be better, then they just might find the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Hope clings to the desire that one day justice will be served, wrongs will be righted, poverty will be abated, diseases will be cured, and love will be restored. It longs, no it aches, for that brighter day when dreams come true, suffering is left behind, and joy is restored. When hope is gone it leaves nothing but darkness and pain. One of the starkest realities of hell is that it is a place utterly devoid of hope. So what do you do when you find yourself wondering whether or not you have any reason to go on hoping?
Most of us probably have at least some fond memories of our childhood. Times when we dreamed of what we would do when we grew up. Dreamed of the things we would accomplish and the adventures we would have; dreamed of living in a certain place, and having a perfect job; dreamed about being married to the love of our life and having a bunch of awesome kids. Probably one of the reasons childhood is so enjoyable is that it is so full of hope. Your whole life stretches out in front of you, a vast frontier waiting to be explored and filled with many adventures and good times. Unfortunately for many these dreams never materialize, and if they do they turn out to be not nearly as exhilarating as what was originally thought. We get to the proverbial “gold at the end of the rainbow” and find that along with the gold is real life. We can’t get away from it no matter how hard we try. Troubles continue, the excitement wears off, the dream fades and sometimes even turns into a nightmare, and we are left grasping for something to keep us going, because sometimes there just doesn’t seem to be any reasons left.
One of the psalmists in the Old Testament said “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?” Have you ever wondered why you are in turmoil? Have you ever wondered why you just can’t seem to get back to joy? Could it possibly be that you have allowed yourself to put your hope in things that will undeniably let you down. You see, no matter how hard we try we can’t possibly find complete joy and satisfaction in the things that are temporal. We were not made for such things. We were made for a relationship with an everlasting God. As the psalmist we must implore ourselves to “…hope thou in God, for yet will I praise Him..”
Oh God we desperately need your grace every day. You are our only hope. We plead with you to help us to let go of all the hopes we have put in earthly dreams, in political systems, in relationships, in financial security, in fame, in anything other than You. Help us to find our joy and strength in You and You alone. Because only you are worthy, and only You have anything to offer that is worth hoping for.
