Hope In

“’Hope’ is the thing with feathers—

That perches in the soul…”

So begins Emily Dickinson.

But here I might differ—Hope is the One with power / That abides in the soul.

We do not have hope, we are indwelt by Hope.

Hope does not perch, it is One who is in union with us. It is the One who pursues us, comes to us, the Lifter of Our Head.

Hope is not FOR. Hope for is too small.

Too small? Hope for, the thing that expands past time? Hope the thing that swoops over the present now, swallows it up in hope’s expanse?

          Too small.

Hope for, the thing that is higher than the mountain-obstacle, plumbs deeper than the ocean-dark depths?

          Too small.

Hope for, the thing that is stronger than the hurricane gale of crisis, fiercer than the torrent of river-pummeling-sorrow?

          Too small.

We do not hope FOR, we hope is IN a God who is so real about giving his hope to his children that he names himself, characterizes himself, as the God of Hope (Rom. 15:13). Christ in you, The Hope of Glory (Col. 3:4).

Hope FOR can be contained, defined. Hope for a job. Hope for a healing. Hope to get through this. All limited, defined. Even hope for salvation (no, not being blasphemous) is too small, for salvation is found in no other name than Jesus. It is not a “thing,” a “get out of hell free card,” not an exchange or trade that we hope for. Salvation is a Person. Eternal Life is a Person; it is in connection to the Vine that the branch finds sap and nourishment.

Hope IN:

The heart of a God who says to trembling, faced with the impossible, Moses, “I AM WHO I AM,” that is, “I WILL BE WHO YOU NEED ME TO BE.”

God of Comfort and Father of All Mercies, no hurt too big for his greater-than-galaxy embrace (2 Cor. 1:3).

Thirst-Quencher, River of Life, no thirst he cannot quench.

Storm-Cloud Rider, Tamer of Behemoth, there is no evil and no chaos he cannot quell and calm (Ps. 18; Deut. 33:26; Job 38-39).

King of the Riches of Glory, there is no need he cannot provide (Ps. 104).

Life Himself, no disease or sickness or death he cannot resurrect.   

Maker and Knitter, Caller, Transformer, there is no timidity, personality, no shame-filled, no abused, no worthless, no unskilled, no uneducated person he cannot use mightily.

Hope hugs. Hope pursues. Hope changes things. Hope comes to us and lifts us when hope seems impossible. Hope changes our heart. Hope is greater than bills, storms, suffering, broken marriages. Hope holds on to me when pain, nausea, fatigue makes me shake. Hope breaks in when it seems dark. Because Hope is a Person, an infinite, greater than time and universe Person.

 “Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope” (Romans 15:13 Passion Translation).