Hope is one of those words that our English usage has managed to neutralize and take the power out of.  Our culture often uses the word to describe a longing for something that we don’t really expect to come about.  We may think it is possible, but not probable.

As a Christian, my hope does not rest on that which I wish for, dream of, or desire.  Instead, my hope is built on a confident expectation that God is faithful and always keeps His promises.  My hope is based on the faith I have in God.  Faith that the Bible defines as “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

So, what is that kind of hope worth?  Is it worth life or death?  . . . health or sickness?  . . . wealth or poverty?  . . . strength or weakness?  . . . perfection or imperfection?  . . . joy or sorrow?  The answer is YES!  It is not an either/or question.  Whatever it takes to have true hope is worth it.

As I reflected on my previous post, I thought about some of the “rain” and “storms” that I have encountered in my life.  Things that some people find hard to accept and they doubt that anything could make those situations “worth it“.  Yes, there have been good “rains” as well and those obviously appear worth going through whether they increase faith or not.  As I think about the hope that I have, the following are some of the gentle rains and fierce storms that have helped shape it.

• Did I want to marry Mary Jane?  YES!  . . . Is it worth it?  YES!
• Did I want to work for an alcoholic boss?  No.  . . . Was it worth it?  Yes.
• Did I want to spend years too sick to work?  No.  . . . Was it worth it?  Yes.
• Did I want to have children?  Yes.  . . . Was it worth it?  Yes.
• Did I want to raise a daughter with disabilities?  No.  . . . Is it worth it?  Yes.
• Did I want to get fired from a youth ministry?  No.  . . . Was it worth it?  Yes.
• Did I want to get back into ministry?  No.  . . . Was it worth it?  Yes.
• Did I want to do ministry with Impact?  Yes.  . . . Is it worth it?  Yes.

The list could go on and would contain things that were desirable as well as things that were not.  Yet each one of these examples, as well as countless others, have served to build, strengthen, and grow the hope that I have within me.  This hope that is a confident expectation of eternity with Jesus.  A hope that is worth whatever it takes to have.

Does it make sense?  Absolutely not!  That is not the question to be most concerned with.  The bigger question is, “What is this hope worth to you?”  As for me, it is worth everything.