When Hope dies

The Oxford dictionary defines hope as: 1 a feeling of expectation and desire for something to happen. 2 a person or thing that gives cause for hope.

What happens when hope dies? I’m sure many have faced this a time in their life, and many may be going through such a familiar situation. I am reminded of this excerpt my brother ugo sent to me once when I too had to deal with such familiarity:

“Greater than the death of flesh, is the death of hope, the death of dreams. Against this peril we must never surrender. The future is all around us waiting in moments of transition to be born in moments of revelations. No one knows the shape of that future or where it will take us, we know only it is usually born in pain.

Jesus said "... in this world you will have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world..." So it would seem any fear, doubt and confusion stems from our reliance on our selves and ability. Despair creeps in when the task ahead of us is greater than what we and the resources we can call upon are capable of. Therefore, it seems that if we can empty ourselves of us and fill it with Jesus then our troubles of little consequence. Because we have rest for our souls not just for time but for eternity.

Pain is temporary, Victory is forever. In Christ we have that victory if and if only we trust in him”.

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see - tries to define what hope is through faith. But what happens when the certainty is no more or when your hope dies, I am reminded that as children of God, we are blessed to have the knowledge that our lives are in the hands of God and whatever happens to us does not take God by surprise. And so we do not wail like people of the world of whom the death of hope truly is the death of dreams. We are consoled with the fact that every situation we face is a chance for God to be glorified. A chance for God to do the things that make him God. If only we can but see past the death of our dreams, and see the realization of one considerably better than what we had originally hoped for.

The realization that such a monumental disappointment is an opportunity for the greatest dreams we can ever dream of to be manifested. And so even though it may be hard to believe that one could ever get past this stage, I am here to tell you that you will. A man may fall many times, your hopes may die many times, but if you are ever to realize the greatest dream of your life, you may have to choose to keep standing. For as long as we are in Christ, as long as God is on the throne, the death of our Hope is that opportunity we have been waiting for. To always bear in mind, that death of hope is a process of transformation, a transformation tailor made to suit our individuality. I truly believe it. My hope may have died in the physical sense, but like Lazarus whose death was an opportunity for the people to see the wonders of God, to see God transform their hope from death to life is at work even in us right now. And with this in mind, we ought to be eager to see what God would do in such a situation. A chance to get excited again at the power of God. A chance to re-focus our minds, heart and direction towards God.

But I ask you this, was your “hope” a stumbling block between your relationship with God? Was it taking you away from the things of God? Did your hope enslave you when you were supposed to master it? Did your hope in any way bring a gap between you and God? I too have found that in the situation I encountered, that the death of hope was a time for me to find out where I may have missed it, and in so doing try to retrace my steps back to God. That the death of Hope was the only way for me to reconnect myself back to God. Because at the end of the day we need rest for our souls not just for time but for eternity.

Nevertheless, the death of hope is never about a time to throw a pity party, but as children of God a chance to focus our lives and trust in Him, if ever we have lived in doubt. A chance to know without a shadow of doubt that He is, and will forever be in the business of transformations and restorations. A chance to feel like “Job” did (both parts), a chance to feel like the Psalmist in psalm 126: and I quote - When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. 2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." 3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Mehn… I’m excited, I don’t know about you, but I just can’t wait to see what God is about to do. I have found myself a very comfortable seat as I watch it all unravel - For I am entitled to hope.