Lieutenant Rob Symons

Salvation Army Citadel

Great Yarmouth

 

‘Hope’. A small word; yet one that for everyone means and embodies so much. Hopes can be large or small. Our hopes for the future, our children, education, careers, relationships, to travel, see the world, for wealth, prosperity, comfort, security, employment, self worth, acceptance, food, shelter, fame, fortune, and so the list goes on. For many, hopes and dreams were encouraged and shattered during the European Football Championships. Then came Wimbledon, and who is not hoping for great things from London 2012, with the hopes of the nation at stake!

 

Of course, hopes don’t always materialise, or if they do, on occasion only for a short while. For many, the economic climate seems unsure and their financial security and future; for some prospects of further education are dashed due to exam results or fear of financial hardship; a once safe career and a job for life ends in redundancy. For others their health and well being or of a loved one is jeopardised; once solid, full of love and rock like relationships break down and for some; the roof above their head disappears.

 

In a world that daily seems to show signs of more despair, despondency, misery, desolation, anguish, depression, gloom, dejection and hopelessness; what ‘hope’ is there for the future?  Maybe the meaning of the word ‘hope’ contains the answer. Hope can also mean expectation, trust, optimism, anticipation and to look forward too. All good and encouraging words however; the one that stands out the most for me is ‘trust’. You see as Christians, through God’s love; a relationship with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit working in our lives, we can have all those things ‘hope’ describes and more; but with one condition. Trust only comes into force with ‘faith’ and ‘belief’.

 

So where does my ‘Hope’ come from? It comes from God’s word as revealed in scripture like in 1 Peter 1:3-9. ‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time’. This portion goes onto outline how we can rejoice in God’s provision even though at times we suffer grief and all kinds of trials.  Furthermore, our faith, of greater worth than gold, may be proved genuine and result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed and ultimately, we receive the goal of our faith; the salvation of our souls.

 

I guess the question for us all; is where does our ‘faith’, ‘trust’ and ‘hope’ come from? With temporal things of the earth that will perish, spoil or fade or with our hearts in Christ and reliance on God? I know what my answer is? What about yours?