Hope, A Bridge Forward
A Contested Word?
“Rejoice, for there is great joy ahead!”
This phrase has frequently come my way this year. And, to be honest, I’ve had a variety of responses to it, usually following this progression.”
…A doubtful hope: “Hmm. You sure, God? Are you talking to me? Am I hearing you right?”
...A wishful hope: “That would be…grreaatt. We’ll see, I guess. Maybe.”
…A persuaded hope: “YES! Agreed. Absolutely. Looking forward to it!”
This good word of promise and hope has elicited such variability in me. Why?
What is Hope?
Well, to answer that, it might be helpful to settle on a working definition of hope. To see what hope is and isn’t. The road blocks it runs into – the forces that oppose it.
Hope is the anticipation and belief that good is ahead.
It’s an expectancy that is optimistic and future-oriented, whether that ‘future’ be 5 minutes away or 5 years.
While Hope has a cheerful demeanor and outlook, it has an iron grip and steely-eyed gaze that makes Dread regret trying to mug it.
When Fear says, “What if?” Hope says, “What if, NOT?”
When Skepticism says, “Impossible. Highly unlikely.” Hope says, “Try me. I dare you.”
When Realism asks, “How?” Hope says, “You watch and see.”
When Disappointment and Loss say, “We hoped for a long time. It didn’t get better. Nothing changed. We’re done.” Hope says, “It’s a new day, with new mercies waiting for you. Receive them.”
Real hope then, appears to be a lot of things. Positive, yes. But, thankfully, also unrelentingly tough. It’s this last quality that’s always moved me from doubtful to persuaded.
So yes, hope is scrappy enough to take on fear, dread, skepticism, and even disappointment induced by loss.
But what makes real hope have the capacity to be so hardy? So strong?
The Hope of the Glory of God
“There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary — we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” (Romans 5:3-5, The MSG)
I love the Message translation of this verse. The ESV version says that we “rejoice in the hope of the glory of God” and that “hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
But again, what makes hope strong? This verse says what or who is behind it.
In this verse, the hope that is being hoped in, is the glory of God. Something about that makes my hair stand on end. This is what we’re waiting for. This is what we’re to hope in: the fact that the glory of God is everywhere. It fills this entire world. It is constant. Tangible and real, there is always more. It never stops. And, it is good. So very good.
Whispers of Glory
The rising of the sun at dawn. Your baby’s laughter. The song you just discovered that’s on repeat because it ushers in a peace you can’t explain. The power of a summer thunderstorm. The pounding of the surf and dance of the ocean tide. Old friends gathered around a campfire, reminiscing far into the night as the sparks fly heavenward against a darkened sky.
These are all whispers of him, the very glory of God. And I haven’t even scratched the surface. As Job said, “These are but the outskirts of his ways; how small a whisper do we hear of him!” (Job 26:14).
But what do the examples I’ve shared all have in common? They soothe and remind us that there is a God. That this God can. That he is good. And he is here…for you. Here for your story, reality, and need.
His glory, the tangible showing of himself in immeasurable ways, is what you can look forward to — not only that, but you can rest assured in this hope because the glory of God isn’t waning anytime soon. Neither is he hoarding or keeping it to himself. He loves you and he generously shares and gives of himself.
My friend, you can hope because the glory of God is on your side. It is true. It is certain, and the hope of the glory of God is your bridge forward. Your bridge from fear to faith. From doubt to love. From the rebuffing of good promises to the rejoicing in them.
I don’t know where you need hope today, but would you be willing to ask God to show you his glory in that place? Then, defiantly rejoicing, continue to ask until you see his glory blaze forth.
Kemi