The Beauty of Hope

Hope. Such a beautiful word. A word full of possibilities. Running over with anticipation. Tinted with promise.

Hope- A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that is obtainable. Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety. ~Websters 1828 Dictionary

I just love hope! It really is full of joy and pleasure! At Ellerslie graduations the staff at Ellerslie picks out a "name" for each student to describe them. The name that was picked to define me was "The Hopeful". I almost cried with joy, they couldn't have picked a more perfect description. I really am a hopeful person and I am filled with the joy of having hope. There are two verses that were chosen to go with "The Hopeful";

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold if the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stead fast. . . Hebrews 6:18-19b

These two verses have been a source of remarkable relief and joy in my life. The first one in particular has been such a blessing to me. Just to know that I can hope in Christ, that He has begun a good work in me and that He will not cease to perform that work until it is complete is such a wonderful thing to put your trust and hope in.

In the second verse, the one in Hebrews, we see that hope is a strength, it is an anchor, a refuge. But only a certain kind of hope can be that for us. Only one kind of hope can satisfy us. For a while I had forgotten the divine joy and wonerful hope. I had placed my hope in things of this world, thinking they would make me happy. I had misplaced my hope and trust. I had put them in people and circumstances. I was expecting so much out of that hope, and I got nothing but pain. It all came crashing down on top of me, I was broken and I was hurting. Then the Lord showed me the following verse.

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5

The kind of hope I had been having was very disappointing in the end. Why? Then I realized that the one and only thing I can place my hope in is Jesus Christ, anything else is simply a wish or desire and is accompanied or followed by pain and anxiety. There is no real hope except that which is placed in my Father. I know He will fulfill me, I have hope of Him changing me. When I put my hope in Jesus I know I can trust Him. He will never let me down. He may not give me everything I want, He may allow things I don't like, but He always puts such joy in my heart that I can't help but hope in Him! He is my only Hope!