Ever wondered why there is so much hopelessness in this world around you? How about this: have you ever felt a sense of hopelessness? Most of us have. Hope is a word that deals with expectation and it’s root word speaks of waiting and trusting. In other words, hope is a concept and a reality that deals with the condition of a person who is waiting patiently, expecting result from the person they trust. When we say: “I hope so” we often don’t have much expectation and the meaning of such expression is rather minute in nature and un-expectant. The reality is that we really want to expect while trusting. When you expect an outcome from someone you trust it’s a great place to be. There is nothing like having real sure hope. America had been known as a land of Hope. Why? America used (and continues) to provide the opportunities for a future to anyone and everyone. But life has changes and seasons have changed. Unfortunately, there is more hopelessness in America today than there has ever been. People are beginning to realize that hope is not only about making another dollar to get another toy. Hope, instead, is about trusting with certainty that the thing you were promised would actually materialize. It's about relationships. The U.S. spends $42 billion a year on anxiety disorders alone and one in four middle-aged adults take prescription drugs to fight the effects of panic, anxiety and depression. When such emotional conditions are present, hopelessness is behind them as a driving force. Hope is vital and necessary for living, aspiring, and branding of our lives to impact those around us while having success in our everyday life. Hope is very close to having faith. In fact, you can’t even have faith if you don’t have hope. That’s why Hebrews 11:1 says: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hope is about trusting with certainty that the thing you were promised would actually materialize. It's about relationships. You can Tweet this too. When hope is gone, or even delayed, postponed or withheld, it even drives you mad to the point of getting sick. No wonder Proverbs 13:12 says that “hope deferred makes the heart sick.” On the other hand, when hope is materialized and prompt with its promise, then life is good, the heart is glad and joy is the agenda of the day. Hope puts a new step in your dance – a new hop in your step. I’ve heard many people quote this proverb hundreds of times. They always quote the first part remembering how sickening deferred hope is. I wish they’d read the rest of the verse. Desired fulfilled is a tree of life. What this means is that when your desires are fulfilled (hope materialized) then you’re like a tree of life, providing fresh air, fruit, and sustenance to those around you. A strong sense of hope, expectation and trust provides an assurance that those things that you are looking forward to will actually take place and there is nothing and no one able to discourage you from it. Your hope provides such excitement that you can’t hardly even sleep. This reminds me of a bride counting down the days before her wedding day. At the same time, on the wedding day, it reminds me of the groom patiently waiting for his bride to ‘finally’ walk down the aisle – the anticipation of such life-changing event is energizing. There is nothing like the hope you have that one day you will marry the right person for you. There is nothing like expecting - anticipating – knowing for sure, that the promises others, including God, made you will actually materialize in your life. God has not given us empty words – His Word is filled with promises that we can expect to experience. If the promises are to you then you can rest assured it will come to pass, it will materialize and you might as well start rejoicing even before you possess your promise. Truth is, God has given you a promise that endures any and every tragedy ensuring its warranty. You can count on them. His promises will bring about the desires of your heart that will make you a tree of life – a breath of fresh air to others around you.
Your vision, dreams and aspirations will drive you to help others rebrand their believe system hoping for a better tomorrow. Here are the 5 best ways I know to live with sure hope. 1. Trust God’s Word. There is no other truer word in this world. So you might as well hunker down and trust it. It will give your sure hope. 2. Develop a trust relationship with someone you can trust. This is a practical way to start elevating your trust levels. 3. Be a hope provider. By this I simply mean that you can make promises to others where they hope you will come true. Little promises – nothing major. Enough to begin to meet someone’s hope of you, demonstrating godly character. This I call: Sowing hope. The more hope you sow, the more hope you will have. 4. Make yourself trust other people. Not everyone – of course, but trust a few people to the point of making you expect their promises to come true. Even if they fail you, just trust again. People can fail you and that’s OK, they’re humans just like you, but give them another chance. You will be amazed as to how many people are also living with sick hearts because of hopelessness. When they fail you, just tell them it’s OK, and expect them to come true the next time. It will build their character wanting to come true for you which in turn will elevate their hope level as well. This is a way to help someone rebrand their own life. 5. Know that God’s promises are true and you can count on them. Hope in God, Trust in God, Anticipate God, and Expect God! He’s Hope-full. Sometimes when we try to trust God on something, expecting answers to prayers that seemingly never get answered, we tend to lose hope to the point of getting sick. Keep the faith – and let hope come alive expecting God to do what he said he would do. Your future depends on it and will be brighter than your past. That is becoming a tree of life. Question: How have you learned to trust and hope in God and others more than you used to? Help me make this list better for others to learn.
Comments
|
About the Author
Alex Colón, Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker, Teacher, Pastor, Blogger and best of all, Husband and Father of 4. Living the re-Branded life
|