A Cry for Hope

Caught up in the day-to-day grind, surrounded by troubles in the world, confronted with challenges in our communities and perhaps in our relationships, we may find ourselves asking, “Is this all there is?”

As the world seems to face the same problems over and over again, we may wonder:

Will things ever change?
How can we go on?
What will sustain us?

We want something better. We need hope.

Hope is not just a wish or a nice idea. It’s more than a desire for something. Hope is linked with expectation. If hope is true and substantial, we anticipate and expect that the thing we hope for is going to happen.

We act with hope in many parts of our lives. We plan for the future. We save for an upcoming vacation. Students pursue academic degrees not only for personal growth but also with hopeful goals such as careers, networks, and friendships. When a relationship gets serious, we begin to hope for a future – perhaps for a wedding, a family, and a lifetime together.

All of this matters, because hope for the future can inspire our lives today.

Hope can also sustain us in challenging times. It looks out from dark or challenging places and says, “It will not always be so. Something better lies in my future. Just keep going.”

Hope motivates us to move from our present circumstances – whether in good times or amidst challenges – into something better. But, in contrast, a lack of hope is debilitating. It is hard to do anything when we feel hopeless.

We may be wary, knowing that false hope can be deadly. It inevitably disappoints. Because of this, hope needs a reality check.

Nevertheless, when hope is anchored in reality, it is like a light shining in the darkness. It helps us keep going. What I see today is not the end of the story. We cry out in hope, trusting that the good things are coming.

This Advent time of preparation reminds us that things are not as they should be. While we see evidence of this all around us, it is even clearer when we look inside ourselves. I am not what I should be. I need to change. That is why John the Baptist cries out:

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

(Matthew 3:1) He calls us to recognize our broken reality, and to be prepared to meet our Lord.

These words call us to a true, substantial, and joyful hope. A hope that is anchored in the trustworthy promises of God. A hope that will not disappoint.

Christ Jesus is our reason for hope, since

He will save his people from their sins

(Matthew 1:21) and

From his fullness we have all received grace upon grace

(John 1:16).

We cry out for hope, knowing that God hears and will answer.