A FEAR OF HOPE

For many of us, Hope comes with an element of Fear.

That’s why you’ll hear some say “Don’t get your hopes up!” or “Hope, but don’t Expect”

Even in Greek mythology Hope was mentioned in a somewhat negative light.

Most of us have heard of the myth of Pandoras box.

In that myth, all the bad things of the world were in her box, including hope. All were released or escaped except for hope.

Why did Hope remain in the box? Was it the worst thing that could happen or was it the remedy for the worst things that could happen?

Many of us fear to find out.

Quite often the greatest fear in Hoping is a Fear of Disappointment.

What if it doesn’t happen!

What if my credit isn’t good enough? What if the doctor finds something? What if this isn’t what I’m supposed to be doing, or who I’m supposed to be doing it with?

What If, If, If?

We certainly don’t want to be reduced to being just wishful thinkers.

Wish, wish, wish.

Who is the genie in that scenario? Where is the lamp, rainbow, or leprechaun?

We need Hope to make life more bearable for us, but we fear what if it doesn’t.

We really don’t know whether it will enliven us or be just another dead-end scam.

We don’t want to just become cynical or live in despair.  But what can we do?

Hope is actually the antidote for Fear. Because Hope is more powerful than Fear.

Having Hope is not the problem, control is.

Too often we try to use Hope as a means of control.

We use Hope to try and control that we get what we want.

I Hope I get THAT job. I Hope I get THAT house. I Hope for only THAT outcome!

I don’t know about you, but almost every time when I got what I wanted, it wasn’t what I wanted!

So where do we turn?

Let’s look at this passage in Romans 15 for a clue.

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This tells us that God is the source of hope.

So, He is where we should be turning to.

And there’s more, He will fill his people with joy and peace as they trust in Him for hope.

Wait a minute. God is going to give us Hope, plus Joy and Peace. I’m IN.

So, there’s our answer right there.

Stop HOPING that we will get our way and start HOPING in God who knows what is best for us.

David said it best in this Psalm.

“Hope in God! I will again give him thanks as my saving presence and my God.”

Noone has Faith without Fear.

So, let’s just trust God together. I’m afraid not to!

                                                This is a Thompson Truth.