The Funny Thing about Hope

Hope is a crazy thing. Without hope, life becomes very hard and difficult. With hope, people manage stress, pressures, and tough circumstances better. Yet, when in tough circumstances, one of the easiest things to lose is hope. When hope is lost, the circumstances only grow in magnitude. At this point, the tendency is downward. Light easily turns to darkness. Joy turns to sorrow. Stability turns to anxiety. Confidence turns to fear.

In a recent conversation, I urged a friend to hold off on making any immediate decisions. Why? Because they had no hope. The view of the future without hope was impacting the wisdom and godliness of the decision being considered.

Two specific narratives help us understand the importance of hope better.

 

Elijah and Elisha Help Us

Elijah Hoped in God’s Character and Word

Do you remember the story of Elijah and Ahab? Ahab became the king of Judah and did evil in the sight of God (1 Kings 16:30). “Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him” (1 Kings 16:33). As a result, Elijah announced to Ahab that God was sending a drought without dew or rain until Elijah announced otherwise. Three years later, here is the conversation between Elijah and his servant.

And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.”

So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”

Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ” (1 Kings 17:42-44)

Why did Elijah keep telling the servant to keep looking, even when he saw nothing?

Why did Elijah tell his servant to go tell Ahab to run quickly when all the servant saw was a small cloud about the size of a man’s hand?

The reason? Because Elijah trusted God’s character and word.

Even when the circumstances did not look good after a three-year drought, Elijah had hope. He trusted God.

 

Elisha Hoped in God’s Character and Word

The prophet Elisha had a similar experience related to hope as well. The king of Syria was making war against Israel. Every time the king of Syria would make a military plan against Israel, God would tell Elisha the plan. Elisha would tell the king of Israel, and the plan would be spoiled. Therefore the king of Syria gets very angry. He sends an army to go capture Elisha. Notice how the Bible explains it:

So [the king of Syria] said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.”

And it was told him, saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.”

Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:13-17)

Why was the servant so scared? Because the circumstances looked so bleak. He thought they were going to die.

What did Elisha know that the servant didn’t? Elisha trusted God’s character and word. Elisha knew that God was protecting him. He understood that in every circumstance there is more than meets the eye. God is at work. Therefore, Elisha had hope!

Even when the circumstances did not look good with an army encamped around them, Elisha had hope. He trusted God.

 

What do we need to do if we are struggling with hope?

Possibly, you are like both servants in this story. You may have lost hope in your current circumstances. You may be struggling to see anything good God may be doing. Possibly, you are discouraged because your circumstances are not as you either wished or desired. What do you do then?

You will need consider these three important next steps to help you:

First, dig deep in God’s Word to consider what the Bible says about trusting God, having faith, and understanding God’s character. Looking at the character of God buoys your faith and strengthens your trust.

Second, remind yourself that you do not know what God knows. Similar to Elisha’s servant, you can’t see what is truly there. Have you ever heard of the statement, “You can’t see the forest for the trees”? Most likely you have. It means that when you are in the forest or next to it, the trees of the forest block your view of the larger forest. In tough circumstances, your perspective prohibits you from seeing God’s perspective. You do not know what God knows. You simply cannot see what God sees (cf., Eccl 1:13-15; 3:1-13).

Third, as a principle of wisdom, Don’t question in the dark what you saw clearly in the light. What you believed and understood before your time of trouble, go back there. If you know what is in your room before you turn the light off, you should not question once you turn your light off. If you do not question it, you will be able to get around the room cautiously even in the dark. The same with God and truth. What you saw clearly and understood clearly in the light, do not question in the dark. If you do not, you will get along cautiously in a way that honors God.

 

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