A man puts his hope in a politician.  This politician promises to make everything better for everyone.  He will put an end to crime, get rid of “those people,” balance the budget, make Congress get in line, and get America back on track.  The politician wins the election.  He does some good things.  He does some stupid things too, because, after all, politicians are human beings.  But the man is disappointed.  He wanted everything to be made right.  At the end of four years, everything is not made right.  Was a politician the right source of hope? 

A woman puts her hope in a doctor.  He has the best reputation and practices at the best facility.  The doctor outlines a course of treatment; it works at first.  The woman has a few good months.  Then a setback.  Another treatment is prescribed.  This buys the woman weeks, not months.  Bad test results come back.  The next treatment has horrific side effects.  The woman goes ahead.  She grows weaker.  Her hair falls out.  Her appetite is gone.  One day the doctor comes in and says, “I am so sorry.  We have done all we can do.”  Was a doctor the right source of hope? 

A man dreams of success.  If he can only climb the career ladder, he knows he can take care of his family.  But underneath that noble reason, he hungers for the validation that promotion will bring.  He works long hours.  He gets promotion after promotion.  The promotions, however, never seem to satisfy him.  He tells himself the next one will finally give him the sense he has arrived.  That promotion comes, but the hollow feeling remains.  His family has everything they need, but they are distant and lack appreciation for his provision.  Then news comes of a merger.  In the inevitable reorganization that follows, his job is eliminated.  He wonders not only what he will do next, but what was the point?  Was a career the right source of hope?

A woman dreams of her soulmate.  The only problem is, she is married to someone she thought was her soulmate but has turned out to be a flawed person.  In the early days of their courtship, he seemed so attentive, so thoughtful.  But something is missing.  She cannot articulate what is wrong, but she wonders if she married the wrong person.  She sees an old flame on Facebook and wonders if he was the one.  One night, she impulsively messages the old flame.  A conversation starts, one that she keeps from her husband.  She and the old flame arrange to meet, just to talk, but talking gives way to something more.  She leaves her husband, moves in with her new-old flame.  As soon as the divorce is final, they marry.  Three years later, her new soulmate has turned into another flawed man.  Did she make a mistake?  Was a soulmate the right source of hope? 

A couple dreams of children.  They have been to every fertility specialist within two hundred miles, but they cannot conceive.  They adopt, knowing a child will make them happy.  This child brings joy and chaos to their lives.  They center their lives around the child, so adorable, so sweet.  Then the child becomes a teenager and starts to rebel.  The child is right on schedule, but the parents are not.  When the teenager pushes back on small things, they react – strongly.  The rebellions get bigger, the parental reactions stronger.  Finally, the teenager runs away.  The parents search and search.  They are devasted.  Their hopes and dreams, their image of themselves as parents, all crash down.  Was it right for them to make a child their source of hope? 

I ask these questions because I think we must think about the source of our hope.  As Dallas Willard said, “Hope is the anticipation of something good that is not yet reality.”  The great temptation is to put our hope in something that appeals to us but something we have no control over.  No politician can solve all our problems.  No doctor can promise tomorrow.  No career fills your deepest hopes and dreams.  There is no perfect soulmate to fix your emptiness.  Looking to your child to meet your needs ends badly for parent and child.  Why put your hope in things that cannot bring hope? 

Paul wrote to the Jesus followers in Rome and blessed them: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Among other things, this means the Christian God – our Heavenly Father – is a God of hope.  Hope comes because Jesus brings us joy and peace.  We know we are profoundly loved, and we are in the grip of God’s grace.  Hope flows out of us because the God of hope is at work in us.  The God of hope delivers what he promises. 

Pause for a moment.  What is the source of your hope?  Make sure your source can deliver the hope you need for life.  Jesus says, “I can deliver the hope you need.”