A Good Word: Hope
by Jared Johnson
My brother has said his favorite movie is Shawshank Redemption. A short book became a long movie of nearly 2.5 hours. Its pacing makes it feel like something we might watch to deliberately put ourselves to sleep. But if we let ourselves get taken in by the story, it resonates. I think that’s partly why it became Aaron’s favorite.
A subtle theme runs through it – until the final 2 minutes. Then, the script and imagery just knock you over like a runaway semi. Morgan Freeman (“Red”) narrated the film and his final words are:
For the second time in my life, I’m guilty of committing a crime – parole violation. Course I doubt they’ll toss up any roadblocks for that; not for an old crook like me.
I find I’m so excited I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it’s the excitement only a free man can feel; a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain.
I hope I can make it across the border.
I hope to see my friend and shake his hand.
I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams.
[whispering] I … hope.
In the last 30 seconds or so, there is no dialogue. Red walked along a white sand beach, grinning ear-to-ear with shoes, suitcoat and suitcase all in hand, hat blowing away into the sea. His friend Andy stood up from sanding an old boat, recognized and smiled at his friend, and they walked toward each other, arms extended, ready to embrace.
Their hope came true.
Earlier in the show, mutual and older friend of both, “Brooks,” was paroled. He lived a simple life out of someone’s spare bedroom, bagging groceries for a paycheck, until one day, he couldn’t. He carved “Brooks was here” in a beam across the ceiling of his room, and hung himself. At the end of the movie, just before the narration above, Red had been paroled and was living in the same home’s spare bedroom. He carved “So was Red” next to his old friend’s words ... then walked out the door, suitcase in hand, hopeful to see Andy. Brooks had no hope. That’s evident in retrospect as Red walked offscreen; you remember scenes when Brooks made a comment, had a look on his face…
Hopelessness is an affliction like no other.
Why, at funerals, do Christians quote to each other that we “don’t grieve like those without hope?” Because this life makes us know what hopelessness is and that it’s worse than any other trial or suffering, including death.
Weariness, wasting, despair and other dark emotions litter the Word; they all express and overlap with hopelessness. We can’t get away from them. They’re in the Bible because they are here, now, and always will be “here-&-now.” They assault us daily. It’s not a perfect “book-chapter-verse,” but aren't at least some of the evil one’s “flaming/fiery arrows” of Ephesians 6.16 hopelessness and despair? He wants death, destruction and deprivation (“kill/steal/destroy”) according to Jesus in John 10. While I have an automatic cringe reflex when someone says “don’t let ‘em steal your joy,” quite frankly, the shoe fits. The Accuser wants to steal, if we let him, our hope and joy. He wants us to question our salvation, doubt God’s goodness, overlook His faithfulness, forget His interventions, ignore His kindness. If we follow those wicked prompts, we will indeed lose the hope and joy that our Good Father gives.
Have you experienced what some of our faithful predecessors felt? (Link to all Scriptures is below.)
I, too, have been assigned months of futility, long and weary nights of misery.
I’m dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Sin has drained my strength; I’m wasting away from within.
They repay me evil for good. I’m sick with despair.
Their insults have broken my heart and I’m in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn & comfort me.
Depending on your preferred translation, “hope” makes about 170 appearances in the Bible; not as often as “faith” or “prayer” (hundreds each) but plenty. The theme – and its antithesis – runs through the whole story of Job.
A close 2nd-most-common “hope” reference (besides “grieving without”), is probably Lamentations 3. “Context before content,” though, so here’s the famous phrase with its lead-up:
He [God] made me chew on gravel. He’s rolled me in the dust. Peace has been stripped away and I have forgotten what prosperity is. … I will never forget this awful time as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of God never ends! Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning!
The word “hope” doesn’t make an appearance but it’s what lets Habakkuk make a bold proclamation:
Though the fig trees have no blossoms and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in God! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
Hopelessness is an affliction like no other. Sometimes we barely cling to a thread of hope, a mere twinkle or glimmer of light. Choose to cling. However threadbare it appears the thread may be from our side of the situation, however faint the glimmer, the Father knows just how robust the “rope” is by which He holds us; He knows just how bright the light of His throne room shines. I dare to hope.
Hope is a cure like no other, coming from a God like no other, won by a Savior like no other, mediated to us by a Spirit like no other, all for the credit of the One Who is like no other.
Remember your promise to me; it’s my only hope.
You alone are my hope in the day of disaster.
Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope! I promise this very day that I’ll repay two blessings for each of your troubles.
This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.
Hope is a reality like no other.
Link to listed as well as additional, relevant Scriptures: biblegateway.com
