Meditation of the Day – Hope

“The word which God has written on the brow of every man is Hope” Victor Hugo, Les Miserables

Les Miserables

I took Julie to see Les Miserables at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. We sat up really, really high. I needed glasses, but hadn’t gotten any yet. Needless to say, I couldn’t see who was who on stage. I also didn’t know the story. I was trying to read the program to figure out what was going on the whole time. Then, I realized everyone was singing. I had two options: be quiet or ask Julie repeatedly what was going on. To her displeasure and of those around us, I chose the latter. I was hoping to figure out what was going on. She was just hoping I would be quiet!

Hope.  

A word. An expression. A belief. An invisible inscription etched into the deepest part of each one of us.

But, hope can be elusive, fleeting and unfathomable at times.

 Hope, whose whisper would have given Balm to all my frenzied pain, Stretched her wings, and soared to heaven, Went, and ne’er returned again! –Emily Bronte, Hope

The simplicity of hope is born in the heart of every man and woman. It is the troubles of life that seek to quench, squash and squelch our hopes. We live in an imperfect world, filled with imperfect people and imperfection at every turn. These imperfections affect our hopes. Because hope is born of faith and built on trust. Hope is held by our confidences and lost by our insecurities. By hope, one one hand, we scale immeasurable heights, to later on the other hand, barely put one foot twelve inches in front of the other!

Hope is like a reservoir of strength – John Piper
For most of us, we have a leaky reservoir. Our frustrations, failures and afflictions deplete this reservoir. We look around, we see others and we perceive peace, joy, and happiness. We hope for what they have–we become jealous and envious. What little was left in our tank now empties. We are broke, empty, and dry. The cracks of our depravity exposed. Hope, once written on my brow, visible when looking in a mirror, now is lost and replaced with despair. I am at a loss…
“Why are you cast down (discouraged), O my soul? Why are you… in turmoil (despair) within me?….”
Did hope fail me? Have my hopes become like the wind?
No, that is not hope. There is no hope in hope. There is little hope in others for they are broken like me, each to his/her own extent, yet broken all the same. There is hope in heaven. But who can go there and bring me hope from such a lofty place?
“…Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, my salvation” (Psalm 42:5)
Preach, teach and instruct your very soul in this. Your expectation will not be disappointed by placing your hope in God. Your soul will wrestle, rise up and reject. But, this hope is an anchor. This Hope stills the storms of doubt, despair and discouragement.
“…which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27)
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Category: Faith
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