The Power of Hope

Hope is a very powerful force. Possibly the best place to begin an appreciation of this is in reference to its close associates - Faith and Love. [1 Corinthians 13:13] There is no need taking up space in expounding the power and force of Faith and Love. They practically rule the world. Their power and effect is apparent in our everyday life.

If there is hope in the future there is power in the present. (John Maxwell)

May be where we miss it, with Hope, is because, it is associated with the future, not necessarily the present. We do not have hope in what we already have and are within reach. For hope to make sense it has to be something out there in the future, not yet within reach. This is unlike its two close associates. Love and Faith are very present in their operation and outlook.

Our love is not in the future. It is present and now. Our Faith is not in the future. (And, I understand this is more challenging for some to understand.) It is present and now. We do not have faith in the future. What we have is hope in the future, based on Faith in a present promise, or assurance. (Hoping I did not lose anyone there. Breathe in, breathe out. Read it over again, and you’ll get it.)

Hope is the power of being cheerful in circumstances that we know to be desperate. (Gilbert K. Chesterton)

The other close corollary between these three is that they all work together. You cannot get the fullness of any without the other two. Scriptures clearly lets us know Faith works by Love [Galatians 5:6]. Did you know Love also works by Faith? Did you know you cannot love unless you have faith in the person and/or something bigger than you? Did you also know you can do neither if your future is blank? That is to say you have no hope.

Once you choose hope, anything's possible (Christopher Reeve)

People who have goals, dreams and vision for their lives find it easier to love and have faith. Why? It is because by virtue of their active process of planning for their future they are exercising hope. The hope they exercise gives them access to faith and love. Hope might be a future thing, but its benefit (power and force) is in the present. You CANNOT live to the fullness of your capacity if you have no HOPE IN THE FUTURE.

So, what hope are you cooking up for 2018? What are your plans for 2018? How do you see January, February…December of 2018? What are you hoping for? Do you have expectations? Are you excited about 2018? Why not, if not? Are you expecting someone else to do that for you? Or, you think you are going to be happy, successful and victorious by chance? Wake up from your slumber. It is time to start creating the 2018 YOU WANT.

Hope is to our spirits what oxygen is to our lungs. Lose hope and you die. They may not bury you for a while, but without hope you are dead inside. The only way to face the future is to fly straight into it on the wings of hope…hope is the energy of the soul. Hope is the power of tomorrow. (Lewis B. Smedes)

You deserve a designer 2018. Why not start working on it? Start cooking up your prophecies for 2018. You got the power. When will you start using it?

Making Hope Happen (Shane J. Lopez Ph.D.)