Christine Evangelou a British-born motivational coach, writer, author and poet once remarked: “Change is supremely inconvenient, uncomfortable and naturally scary. Yet we only move through life through the process of change, reinvention and renewal, and so bravery is our quintessential rebel for pushing us past our own limiting beliefs and behaviors. Bravery is feeling the fear, immersing yourself into it and through it so you can come out the other side.” Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Hope is said to be a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen. In an Islamic context, “inshallah” expresses the belief that nothing happens unless God wills it, and that His will supersedes all human will. However, more generally the phrase is commonly used by Muslims, Arab Christians and Arabic speakers of other religions to refer to events that one hopes will happen in the future, having the same meaning as the English word "hopefully". Its legitimacy is described as the perceived justification for maintaining hope in the face of adversity or challenging circumstances. It's about whether the hope is grounded in reality, reason, or a belief in a positive outcome, and whether it's a worthwhile sentiment to retain. In essence, it's the question of whether hope is justified, given the particular situation to which it is applied. It suggests that hope is not merely a passive emotion, but a force that can drive positive change and contribute to meaningful outcomes. Hope needs to be legitimate in the sense that it's not entirely detached from reality or based on self-deception. A healthy sense of hope invokes a belief in a positive future, combined with a realistic assessment of the situation and a sense of agency to work towards that future.
While legitimacy doesn't inherently strive for a singular, objective "truth," it does often rely on perceptions of truth and accuracy to maintain its validity. Legitimacy, in a political or social context, signifies that an authority or system is seen as rightful and acceptable by those it governs. This perception is often built on a foundation of perceived fairness, adherence to norms, and a degree of trust in God. The feeling of hope initiates a profound sense of grounding by offering a positive outlook and belief in a better future, which can help manage stress and anxiety during challenging times. It acts as a buffer, reminding us that difficult situations are only temporary and that joy can be experienced again, providing motivation and a sense of purpose. Hope also fosters resilience, allowing individuals to persevere through adversity and make healthier choices to move towards its conquest.
Several stories in the Bible offer hope, including those of Joseph, Esther, and Gideon.
Esther saved the Jewish people from annihilation in the ancient Persian empire by revealing a plot to destroy them and ultimately thwarting the plan through her influence with the king. The story, recounted in the Book of Esther, takes place in Susa, the capital of Persia. Esther, initially hiding her Jewish identity, becomes queen and, after learning of a plot by Haman to kill all the Jews, she reveals her identity and her people's plight to the king.
She risks her life to save the Jewish people from annihilation by Haman. Her courage and reliance on God's guidance, even when facing potential death, resulted in a great victory for her people. This story shows how God can use individuals to fulfill His purposes, even when the odds seem impossible. Esther 8:3-14 reminds us: “Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king. And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king.
For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?” Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he intended to lay hands on the Jews. But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked.” The king's scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language.
And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud, saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods, on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies. So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.”
With hope continually in the wings, life becomes acceptable. It fuels courage and determination to succeed. It sheds light in the darkness that illuminates a passage. A seemingly dark future always appears brighter. It could be said to equate to the definitive responsibility of tomorrow. Denis Waitley, an American motivational speaker and writer once remarked: “As long as we are persistence in our pursuit of our deepest destiny, we will continue to grow. We cannot choose the day or time when we will fully bloom. It happens in its own time.” God is the source of all hope. Psalm 39:1-7 reminds us: “I said, “I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, so long as the wicked are in my presence.” I was mute and silent; I held my peace to no avail, and my distress grew worse. My heart became hot within me. As I mused, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue: “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;
man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.”
Hope is often associated with vigor and strength, both emotionally and physically. Vigor and strength combined can overcome adversity or oppression. Studies show that hope can boost confidence, resilience, and the ability to achieve goals, which can lead to increased motivation and a sense of empowerment. Its legitimacy can create a further sense of acquiescence that can translate into a greater capacity to face difficult challenges and persevere through the most arduous of times, effectively providing a superior source of solidity. Isaiah 40:31 confirms: “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Amen.
