ELPIS
ANTICIPATION, EXPECTATION, CONFIDENT EXPECTATION.
ANTICIPATION, EXPECTATION, CONFIDENT EXPECTATION.
Elpis implies that something is going to happen,
and the subject is anticipating it with confidence.
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In the original Greek language, the definition of hope is not simply wishful thinking, as we utilize it here in the U.S., but a faithful stance that believes something good is on its way. There is a huge difference between the two. You see, hope is a faithful expectation that anticipates God’s goodness and recognizes, through spiritual eyes, that He is working things out for our good. Wishful thinking is a stance that is uncertain and somewhat apathetic. I believe many of us have the latter view of hope and therefore do not fully understand certain scriptures and the whispers of godly anticipation they quietly pour into our lives.
All this said, I want to share about a time I was struggling through what I can now describe as ‘A Falling out of Hope’. For you to follow along I have to take you back a bit. You see, for years I had a skip in my step and an unwitting grasp on the true meaning of hope. My heart was light and therefore my attitude was right and I’d wake up each day with a faithful expectation that asked, “What’s going on today, Lord?” With this mindset, my life had a hope that was experiential and I enjoyed the daily happenings that would move to, and through me. I was living inside the gift of hope, and its joyful cadence.
But, as life often does, something changed. There was a gradual shift that slowly drained the hope right out of me. Over time my outlook diminished and I began to ask a different question. Honestly, it is hard to be this transparent; however, my goal is to share my spiritual lessons through these writings, so I’ll say that my unexpected query became, “Lord, when are you coming back because I don’t wanna live like this anymore.” Looking back, that question is somewhat shocking, even to me. And, I know it sounds fatalistic but let me clarify; I wasn’t having an emotional breakdown ... but a spiritual one. I couldn’t pin-point what I was lacking...but one day I heard a teaching on the definition of Hope, using the original language of scripture, and it opened my heart and ushered in the ability to find my personal hope again.
You see, when we believe hope is about an outlook that is based on positive thinking and we build our lives on that form of optimism, any change in our lifestyle or state-of-mind can diminish hope’s effect on our lives. This is what happened to me. Not until I learned the actual meaning of hope did I recognize that I could, indeed, find hope again by aligning myself to its true meaning.
Hope is a promise that God is up to something good in our lives. Hope is not wishful thinking but a firm and faithful stance inside our mind. When we can lift our heads and literally look out, beyond our circumstances, and choose to stand on the foundation of the original meaning of Hope...this shift in thinking becomes foundational. We then have the knowledge and resolve to set the course of our day through faith that believes that God is actively up to something good, and, no matter what, we will have the ability to station ourselves in a position of faithful optimism. Not because of circumstance but because of God’s goodness and because of our faith in God’s faithfulness. It’s a beautiful weaving of a belief system that changes our hearts and minds. Believe me, this shift in thinking is healing.
When we are mentally standing on the fact or, drum roll please, hope that God sees, knows and is actively meeting our needs, then we have found true Hope. It’s hard to switch gears and see hope for what it really is because it is a mental modification of old belief systems that must take place, but, we can liken it to a light switch on a wall. We can flip it on by a quick change of our minds.
Listen, we will expend the same amount of energy sitting inside the thoughts that worry us as we will if we switch over to the belief that God is who He says He is and does what He says He will do. He is the foundation of our Hope. He is creating and expending and weaving inside our minds the true emotion of faithful expectation that solidifies the belief system that allows us to expect good things are flowing our way. It is present-tense and active.
Remaining in the current movement of thought, the point of this writing is to help us both return the Biblical definition of Hope. To repeat myself, once we know what Hope is we can understand how to find it again. Remember, Hope is the faithful expectation that God is up to something good; and it is presently on its way. I pray you can toggle over to the fact that God is working in your life and something good is on its way to you this very moment. Use your faithful expectation; feel it, see it, believe it, receive it. Hope it ... because God's Word is trustworthy and true!
"O Lord, you alone are my hope.
I've trusted you since childhood."
Psalm 39:7
"The hopes of the godly result in happiness,
but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing."
Proverbs 10:28
"Rejoice in our confident hope.
Be patient in trouble,
and keep on praying."
Romans 12:12
"Faith shows the reality
of what we hope for;
it is the evidence
of things we cannot see."
Hebrews 11:1 NLT
Footnotes for Hebrews 11:1 in NLT
"We have faith in God to do what he has promised,
and we can be absolutely sure that he will.
So our hopes are not idle hopes,
but they are built on the solid foundation
of his trustworthiness."
SONG RECOMMENDATION:
Breakthrough
BY: Red Rocks Worship
