Hope

Hope—a wish or desire accompanied by 

confident expectation of its fulfillment.

Hope is a huge word full of promise.  It has infinite ripple effects in our lives.  When we see a future; a light at the end of the tunnel; that this too shall pass, it gives us the strength to carry on.  Hope is infectious, contagious, always beneficial.  One ray of hope will spread and others will gain strength from it.

Hopelessness is also a huge word but it is devoid of promise.  It, too, has infinite ripple effects in our lives.  It is also infectious and contagious but it is never beneficial.  When all we see is darkness ahead; that nothing will change; a mind numbing never-ending sameness, it saps us of all energy for life.

We cannot control outside forces.  This is a common statement but do we really take it to heart?  Or are we still inclined to blame fate or karma (or God) for our circumstances?

This question has been on my mind lately.  In the past 6 years, my life has changed a lot (a lot, a lot, a lot).  Most of the changes have been good.  I have lost weight, published 2 books, moved into a newer trailer and made a few forever friends. 

Still…past experience has taught me that none of it will last, none of it will matter in the end, all of it will slowly fade along with all my dreams.  Fatalistic, right? and a major downer (see, told you I had drama queen tendencies).  Carole (ex-mother-in-law, good friend) has been fussing at me lately because of it (God’s been on my case about it, too).  In our last conversation I realized that although all of these good things have happened, I was waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop.  I also realized that trying to encourage others when there is no true hope in me has a hollow ring to it that they can clearly hear.  I’ve heard it myself from others. 

1 Peter 3:15 says, But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

I’m sorry to say that no one has asked me that question lately.  It’s time to change that.