What is "Hope"?
Hope is something I've studied since 2016. In face, I dedicated an entire year to digging deep into both the scientific and spiritual influences of hope in our lives. It's become such an important topic for me that one of my core processes in working with women is to help them ReClaim Hope.
The dictionary defines hope as: a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen; a feeling of trust.
The Science of Hope
There's the "science of hope" which is the study of how hope can positively affect people's lives. It tells us that when people focus on hope, the prefrontal cortex of the brain activates to help in behaviors and decisions. Chemically, hope helps stimulate dopamine and serotonin. And when we focus on hope, the brain strengthens the neural pathways of positive emotions and resilience. It is required for setting goals and making plans to achieve them.
Hope theory (the psychological study) suggests that hope is made up of three parts:
- goals (abstract mental targets that guide human behaviors)
- pathways (the ability to identify strategies or plans on how to achieve one's goals), and
- agency (dependence on yourself to achieve the goals).
Science seems to suggest that hope depends on me... you... the individual.
What the Bible Says
The Bible seems to identify that hope is something outside of us. Because it is based on God's promises and His faithfulness. Not in OUR ability to cause or bring things into existence.
It isn't a wish. But a firm belief, that because God has said it, good is coming.
The Greek word for hope in the New Testament is elpis which means "a favorable and confident expectation or the happy anticipation of good."
The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament is qawah. It translates "to wait or look for with eager expectation."
Hope and Faith are conjoined twins for a Christian. You can't have one without the other.
Finding Hope in Difficult Times
So what do you do when you're in the middle of a firestorm? How do you stay in hope and walk in faith?
Well, for me, I did a study on hope. When life was falling apart, and I felt like I didn't have anything to hold on to; when I woke up afraid and went to sleep in terror, HOPE became my medicine.
I read scripture, read articles, and consumed books and podcasts and videos.
I realized that if I didn't hang on to hope; I was doomed. So instead, I wrote this declaration...
I came to understand that Hope isn't a feeling, but a person. And the scripture in Hebrews 2 became my daily prayer, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;".
I know it sounds cliche'. And I'm really sorry that if you're in the middle of the gut-wrenching struggle that I "only" have this advice. But Sister... Brother... the only way you'll triumph in this season is to cling to Him. Reclaiming hope is one of the most powerful weapons of spiritual warfare you can weild.
How to Stand Firm in Faith
I wish I could say it's easy. But it isn't. It is WORK to REST. It is a DECISION.
It's kind of like this... I was married young. And everyone said, "it will never last." And I made a decision it would. Divorce was simply off the table. (I'm not saying it's wrong for you.) And so, no matter what we went through in our 42 years of marriage, I never went to the "divorce" box. Because I wasn't going to let those people be right. lol
We have to make a decision that NO MATTER WHAT God is the ultimate solution, answer, source, and resource. What He says is truth.
If you have any other options on the table, you will run to them. Reclaiming hope must become the default when you feel it slipping away. Grab it and don't let go.
Drugs, alcohol, sex, shopping - all are pseudo-gods to receive our worship when things are hard - and when things are good.
It's Jesus' story of building (standing) on shifting sand or solid rock. Where will you stand when the storms of life hit?
And listen, like I said, I know it isn't easy. But it is possible to stand firm in faith even when the world is crashing around you.
I know. I've been there.
Faith-full, Hope-full People
Who are the spiritual giants in your life? You know who they are. The people who, no matter what happens, point you right back to the Lord. They tell you the scriptures and the stories to prove the faithfulness of God. And you look at their lives and wonder how they could trust Him that way.
I think a key is what happens away from the crowd. It's in the secret place. The hidden moments in the shower when tears mix with the water. When the sound of the water drowns out the wail of the sobs.
Hebrews 11 is the list of the great hall of faith. We often talk about Abraham and Sarah and Enoch. But what about all of those people at the end of the chapter - who DIDN'T see deliverance? We want to sweep them under the rug like the relatives we don't talk about.
Faith and Hope don't depend on getting your way. They depend on the Person you put your trust in.
I sat in my bathtub in the last weeks of Richard's life, crying out to God to heal Him or take Him home. The way He was living wasn't wonderful. And, I wish I could say I just "stood on faith that he would be healed." But what I did do, was stand on faith that the Lord knew the plan.
Some places in Richard's story we saw the miraculous. Some places were murky and scary and soul-crushing. In the middle, all we could say is, "I belong to Jesus." And that's where we have to land, Lovely One. In His arms.
Practical Hope
Practical Hope. I bet you're hoping for a 1-2-3 A-B-C to walk in supernatural faith that runs over the giants.
Ooops.
Here's what I can offer you.
1. Spend time with the Lord every day.
2. Make all your requests known to Him.
3. Let the peace of God rule in your heart.
A. Surround yourself with people who will speak the truth.
B. Make a determined, definite, here's-where-I-make-my-stand decision to trust the Lord. No. Matter. What.
C. Leave the results to Him.
When you know His word, you can know His heart. And when you know His heart; His great love for you, that He is good and does good (Psalm 119:68), your trust will increase. And with increased trust comes exponential hope.
The Anchor of Hope
I learned a truth about Hope in my season of study.
There's an anchor called a kedge.
Kedge anchors can be used to pull you forward when you get stuck, or when you're moving against the wind.
And that's what Bible hope does. "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek." Hebrews 6:18, 19.
In the most tough season, Hope draws us to Jesus. Because HE is drawing us to Himself, into His presence. Into the very throne room of God. We rest. He works. He draws. We receive.
In one of the darkest times of my life, my prayer was, "Lord, I don't know how to walk this path. But You do. So I trust Your hand to lead me and show me the way through.
Kedging prayer. Hope prayer.
