THE HABIT OF HOPE

“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of HOPE UNTIL THE END” – Hebrews 6:11

God wants His children to cultivate the HABIT of HOPE: “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb.6: 11-12). Hope is one of the great words of the Christian faith, but it tends to be overused or misused. People tend to use the word “hope” to mean wishful thinking. For Believers in Christ, Hope conveys a certain confidence that God’s promises will be realised. That’s why Hebrews 11:1 speaks of faith in terms of hope: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for.” Hope is more than an emotion: “I’m feeling hopeful.” True HOPE is a spiritual Habit!

Hope is a spiritual Discipline that involves practice and consistency. A Habit is a settled or regular tendency or practice that has effectively become part of a lifestyle. The Habit or spiritual Discipline cultivated by Hope is Patience. In our world of instant gratification, patience is difficult, and even countercultural. But Hope gives us the strength to endure with patience until the very end. Hope is a determination to believe in God’s reality and power, even when the world seems to be crashing down around us. That is the genius and the power of hope. It flies in the face of calamity, saying, “The world can do its worst to me. But still I will hope. Still I will know that this is the day the Lord has made, and He will take care of me.”

Our Lord Jesus Christ is our Model of Hope, Patience, and Faith: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (Heb.12: 1-3).

Hope is a small word, but it is one of the most powerful words in Scripture, because in Hope lies the power of the human soul to turn to God and live in expectation that His promises will come true: “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD” (Psa.31:24). David declared: “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5). Hope is the confident expectation that though the circumstances of life may suggest otherwise, God’s good purposes for the world and for us will come to fruition.

The media suggest that suffering overwhelms our world, brokenness rules our days, and disappointment is the inevitable conclusion to our dreams. But hope declares confidence in the God who will accomplish His purposes. Though we may not see it now – which is what makes it hope – we are confident we will ultimately see and experience God’s final victory. The key to overcoming life’s challenges or crisis is the Habit of Hope: Hope that Jesus loves us; hope that He is, right now, working out a solution for us; and that the future we place in His hands will be better than the present we hold in our own: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a HOPE” (Jer. 29:11).

With the Power of Hope, we shall prevail: “But those who HOPE in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isa.40:31, NIV).