What is Hope?

Hope. What do you think of when you hear that word? We all say it probably several times each day – about anything and everything. I hope I win that writing contest…I hope I feel better tomorrow…I hope she won’t be mad at me…I hope mom lets me help her with dinner…I hope I get to see my friend this week…We say it literally about everything. However, in reality, what does hope truly mean?

A quick internet search brings up several different definitions of the word, such as “Hope is an optimistic
state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's life or the world at large.”  I think that probably sums up our usual thought when we think of hope.

But where does hope come from? Where is it found? Where does it originate?

Let’s start with the first question. Where does hope come from? Well, in Romans 15:13, we read, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Read the beginning again. “The God of hope…”, if God is the God of hope then that informs us that hope comes from God. He has given us the beautiful emotion and thought process that we all call hope.

In the original language of the New Testament, Greek, we find hope in the form of the word, “elpis”. “Elpis” is defined as, “expectation of good, hope in the Christian sense, joyful and confident expectation of eternal
salvation.”

Where is hope found? It is found in our Savior Jesus Christ. Hope outside of Jesus is short lived and disappointing. It’s so sad when we look out at the world and see so many people searching for something to fill them, hoping repeatedly in different things – and never finding the satisfaction and true hope they so desperately search for.

Where does hope originate? It originates with our Creator. He created it, and bestowed it upon each of us. What a beautiful gift! Can you imagine your life; minus the emotion/thought process, we call hope? I certainly cannot!

However, what do we do with hope? How can we share it? If our hope is found in Jesus, then as we read in Romans, He will fill us with all joy and peace in believing in Him so that we may abound in hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Abounding in hope can be so many things, much more than just a positive outlook on life. It’s knowing where your soul lies in eternity, and looking into the world and seeing the people who
don’t have that assurance. It’s reaching out and sharing that hope with those people. It’s living for Jesus every single day. It’s one day hearing those beautiful words at heavens gates, “Well done, thou good and faithful
servant. Enter into the joy of your Father.”

How do we share our hope? Hope expresses itself in many ways, such as joy, confidence, kindness, caring for others…and so much more. When hope in Jesus is at the center of our lives, everything we do flows from it. From helping an elderly neighbor, to smiling at a random stranger, to sending a card to a friend, to washing the dishes for your sibling, to paying for the person behind you's order at a coffee shop, to just lifting your hands in worship to our Creator as the sun shines down on you from above. When hope is at the center of everything we do, our entire world changes. Kindness rules. God’s Word is spread to every corner of the world. Why?

Because this hope is impossible to keep to yourself. It is physically impossible to suppress it. When we ask Jesus into our lives, His hope takes over and never let’s go. No matter what happens, even when things bring us down, that hope never fails. Because everything passes, except hope. Hope will never fail. Shine your God given hope to everyone you meet and lets change this world together.

I hope you’ll join me.