Soul Care - Hope
by Mary Elsbury
Are you a control freak? Do you have issues with minor inconveniences that take place and then constantly mull over the whys and hows? Control freaks believe they know what is right because they are perfectionists and could never do wrong. They cannot accept that minor problems are part of everyday life.
I have to admit that I enjoy a good list and often try to follow it to a “T.” I like to plan things and try to build in contingencies in case something deviates from my expectations. I like to know upfront what to expect and don’t like surprises. There’s only one problem with that kind of thought process. The plan is often relying on someone or something that is totally out of my control.
The news these days is filled with doom and gloom. It’s easy to get discouraged when all that is heard is how bad things are. When we are going through troubling times, our friends often attempt to offer encouragement like, “Hopefully things will get better soon” or “I’ll be hoping for a good outcome.”
By definition, hope is “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. We often use the word hope in three different ways: 1) Hope is the desire for something good in the future. Our kids might say, “I hope we get home early tonight so we can play outside.” In other words, they want to get home early so that they can experience this good thing or 2) Hope is the good thing in the future that we are desiring. We say, “Our hope is that our friend will arrive safely.” In other words, the safe arrival of our friend is the object of our hope; or 3) Hope is the reason why our hope might indeed come to pass. We say, “I hope we have a good tailwind so we can arrive on time.” In other words, the tailwind is the reason we may achieve the future good that we desire.
For Christians, there is a flaw in that logic. When we use the word “hope,” we are often expressing uncertainty rather than certainty. Scripture encourages us to hold on tightly to the hope we have in Jesus and to the people that God has placed in our lives. We were made to go through life together and share our burdens. The more we hold on to the hope of Jesus, the more glory we bring to the Lord. Hebrews 10:23 states, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Isaiah 40:31 reminds us “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 faith.” Jesus tells us in Mark 9, “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
So, as a recovering control freak, I encourage you to let go of your lists and plans and lean into God and your community of believers. The Apostle Paul offers this prayer in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Looks like I can tear up my To-Do list.
