HOPE…overlooked and under-estimated

Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen. It can be an expectation and anticipation that rests in what we believe.

If we believe that we are valued in our job, then we hope that the raise we ask for or the promotion that we apply for will be granted. If we believe that we are loved by our significant other/life partner, then we hope that we’ll have a wonderful, lasting relationship together. Heck, if we believe that it’s gonna rain, we hope that we don’t get wet or catch a cold if we do.

We all hope/have hoped for so many things throughout our short lifetime, and probably for everyday of it. But ‘hope’ is something that many of us overlook or take for granted. Love (the most used 4-letter word on the planet ) - we know about and consciously think about, speak about, write about, dream about and seek after. But ‘hope’ is something that we do without realizing it. Kinda like breathing…it’s a reflex. So, for someone to feel hope-less would be cause for concern.

Feelings of hopelessness can occur for a variety of reasons, but it’s one of the main traits of sadness, and even more so, depression. Remaining hopeful is the key to overcoming them, so we should examine what we believe about a person or situation that worries us, in order to find a ‘silver lining’ and restore hope within ourselves. Hope helps us to keep dreaming, keep trying, keep smiling, keep planning, keep working, keep loving, keep giving, keep communicating, keep forgiving, keep praying…to “keep on keeping on”.

The thing that keeps me hopeful is my faith in God, because I believe in His Love for me. His Love and Faithfulness keeps me going even when I feel like giving up on after-50 dating, malicious family members, duplicitous politicians, greedy business owners, warring world leaders, etc., (and even myself, sometimes ). My expectations and anticipations are new every day that I wake – but mainly the hope of having a really good day regardless of the weather, regardless of the state of my finances, regardless of my health, regardless of my single status, regardless of the negativity that may come my way, regardless of the challenges.


What keeps you ‘hopeful’?