HOPE is Great Expectation

My husband described HOPE as "Something good is about to happen to you!” He/We never gave up hope….even until his last breath, we stood by “Nothing is impossible with God so we will continue to HOPE that something good is about to happen." How beautiful to live with expectancy instead of living in hopelessness. Even though what we had “hoped for” – to see him healed and whole, God still didn’t fail us, because healing and wholeness are what he ultimately received.

I started this post yesterday morning. I knew HOPE would be my topic for today. My granddaughter’s phone call to come to pick her up so she could spend the day with me interrupted my train of thought. I was still in my gown, so I quickly ran into my closet, put on a top and pants, looked in the mirror and I saw HOPE! I had a “gotcha!” from God. He was confirming I needed this “word” today, and maybe so did you!

I never liked it when I heard someone say, "Don't get your hope up!" What a sad command! I think of those huddled masses yearning to be free who are hopeful that they may one day live in a country like ours. And, so many who are going about it the right and legal way keep their HOPE up, because they pray for the day when something really good happens for them.

I don't like movies that leave you hanging, or have a disappointing ending. I LOVE the happy ending ones! Hello, Hallmark movies! A real life, true story movie played out as our Lord lived on this earth and gave hope and great expectation that something good was about to happen to those He encountered. He always gave hope, yet this same Lord, as despicable as it was, was beaten, tormented and martyred. What a sad ending to all that He taught! OH, but we don’t stop there, because HOPE didn’t stop there. Such good news came on the 3rd day. It wasn’t the ending at all. Our Champion, Jesus Christ won on Resurrection Sunday aka Easter…so, we win and HOPE with great expectancy! Anything is possible with hope!

Right now, life may be tough for you. You might have some health issues, or experienced the recent loss of a loved one. There may be strife in your marriage. You might not have enough money to make ends meet. But, DON"T lose hope! Just when you think the "movie" could get no worse, our Champion will be there because HE LIVES!

Here's why we should ALWAYS have our hope up: Hope gives us confidence and assurance. Hope gives us the ability to trust, to have faith in the present moment, no matter how bleak it may be. Hope gives us peace in the midst of the storm. Hope brings us joy in times of sadness. All those things that give us strength and courage rest in hope. Hope is the prescription for a sleepless night. As long as we have hope, we won't give up, because once we choose "HOPE", anything is possible!