“Hope” ~ means to embrace both the expectation and the desire for the expected thing.
What or whom do we really have hope in? Usually our “hope” rest in what or how we expect people to respond or react to a given situation. When we put that type of expectation in people 9 times out of 10 we will usually get disappointed. I’m sure if we are honest we can make a list of things or people we have placed hope in. Is it fair to really place hope in people knowing that if they do not give us the desired expectation we will become disappointed in them? Not necessarily because the person is trying to disappoint us intentionally but generally it’s because we have put so much hope in that person that we set ourselves up for a huge let down when things don’t go the way we planned. Is our main hope in the assurance of Jesus or is it something/someone else?
“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 (NKJV)
Since we have learned the definition of hope means to embrace both the expectation and the desire for that expected thing. Instead of placing our “hope” in people or the expectation of the desired thing what if we focus on redirecting what and whom we have hope in so that we can reduce continual feelings of misplaced anger, hurt, shame, and disappointment.
"...what if we focus on redirecting what and whom we have hope in so that we can reduce continual feelings of misplaced anger, hurt, shame, and disappointment."
I am not saying to never believe that people will not do what they say they are going to do – No! I’m saying if people or situations disappoint you because you had “hope” for an expected thing, expressing your hurt is a natural reaction, but then after you’ve expressed your hurt or disappointment release the situation or person, forgive and move on.
If only our hope could solely rest in the assurance of Christ Jesus then what we would lose? Nothing because our expectation and our desire for the expected thing would be filled knowing that with great assurance JESUS is the only safe place to Hope, to Expect or to Desire.
When our “Hope” is in Jesus we can’t go wrong. This week, as we read the scriptures, let’s try to establish a new Hope in Christ Jesus, and let go of everything else!
Scriptures Related to Hope:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”-1 Peter 1:3-5
“For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.”-Psalms 71:5
“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?"
-Romans 8:24
“Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." -Romans 5:1-2
“There is one body and one Spirit- just as you were called to one hope when you were called- one Lord, one hope, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." -Ephesians 4-6
“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,”-Hebrews 6:19
