To Wish or to Hope, that is the Question

“Happy New Year!” Our family and friends sang in unison as we slammed the door on 2022.

“Make a wish everybody!” someone chanted. “Let’s hope for a great 2023!”

Early the next morning, I plopped in my favorite chair with a gigantic cup of coffee, my Bible and journal.

Two words resounded from the night before: “wish” and “hope.”

I wondered which one was the best to use to usher in the new year, so I went to Google.

 Wish is to have a desire for (something, such as something unattainable, unlikely to happen. (merriam-webster.com)

 Hope as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen; a feeling of trust.” (Oxford dictionary)

The word hope in Hebrew means expectation-also cord or rope, meaning to bind or wait for or upon, according to another source.

Hmmm…no wonder the Bible doesn’t focus on the word WISH, but it emphasizes the word HOPE.

So, what is the hope God wants us to experience day by day?

Wishful optimism is based on a future outcome; crossing our fingers that things will work out for the best.

However, HOPE:

• Is based on a Person; it’s clinging on to Jesus even when our life seems out of control and the future looks dark, just like its definition describes.

• Is not wishful thinking, but confident expectation based on His faithfulness in the past and His mercies, that are new every morning

                           I have been so deprived of peace.

                         I have so forgotten what happiness is, that I think

                     “My strength is gone, and so is my hope in ADONAI.”

But in my mind, I keep returning to something, something that gives me hope-

That the grace of ADONAI is not exhausted, that His compassion has not ended.

      [On the contrary,] they are new every morning! How great is your faithfulness!

     “ADONAI is all I have,” I say; “therefore I will put my hope in Him.” Lam.3:22-23 CJB

•  Is an injection of physical and emotional strength

                But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength…

         They will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.  Is. 40:31

 We don’t have to wring our hands in fear or cross our fingers that nothing bad happens.

We can look to the future with joyful expectation of good, not because we will never face adversities, but in spite of them.

I cannot see the future, but I know WHO does. And that is all that matters.

Are you facing difficult times? Are you sick? Are you unemployed? Are you alone?

I invite you to join me and dare to hope, just like David did:

                           ADONAI, in the morning, you will hear my voice.

           In the morning I lay my needs before you and wait expectantly. Ps.5:3