Hope

Hope, according to Merriam-Webster, means to desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment.

Are you watching The Count of Monte Cristo on PBS? Have you read the book? It's a challenging book because of its length and complexity. I enjoyed it very much. I am also enjoying the PBS miniseries. In the second episode Abbe Faria tells Edmond Dantes, "You must have hope. You cannot live without hope."

I couldn't help but think about The Shawshank Redemption because of the tunneling through the wall and the words about hope. The theme of revenge is strong in both stories also, but that's not what I'm interested in today. I wonder if maybe Stephen King was inspired by Alexandre Dumas' work. I have not read Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, but I've seen the movie a number of times as it is a favorite.

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." (Andy Dufresne, The Shawshank Redemption)

There are parts of The Shawshank Redemption that can be hard to watch so I really don't mind if I stumble into it near the end. Watching the warden discover the tunnel Andy has been digging for years, Red finding and reading the letter Andy buried at the base of a rock wall, and Red walking down the white sand beach toward Andy who is restoring a boat are among my favorite scenes. The movie leaves you with the feeling that friendship endures, justice is served, and hopes can become reality even in the midst of the most seemingly impossible circumstances.

As much as I like both stories and the theme of hope running through them, I like the story of hope in the Bible much more. How glad we can be that our hope is not based on things in this world but on the creator of it. We can be sure that He will fulfill His promises and so we can rest knowing we are secure in the Everlasting Arms.

Hope is a wonderful word. It is one that lightens burdens and gladdens hearts. Maybe we should spend some time today thinking about the unwavering hope we have in and through the Word of God.

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

1 Peter 1:3

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” – Romans 8:25