What Is More Than Wishing?

What’s “More Than Wishing?” I was looking through old journal entries and old email notes sent to friends and found out that I was wishing a lot of things, for myself and for others. I didn’t use the word “wish” but that is what I meant. I wanted good things to happen. I wasn’t confident there was even a small chance that what I was wishing for could happen. Even if I had thought the good things could happen, I was skeptical they would happen. But, I wanted them to happen.

I used the words “hope” or “hoping.” I hoped friends would have a good day. I hoped the weather would be nice. I hoped illness would leave or not spread. I hoped no one was hurt when I heard sirens. I hoped my kids would behave. I hoped my life would change. I hoped I could lose weight. I hoped my husband would understand me. I hoped. I threw the word around like a farmer spreads seeds or like buckshot scatters. I was, in reality, wanting things to happen, wishing for things to happen, with no sense of assurance. That is not what hope is about. Hope is more than wishing.

When I looked at how I used the word hope I found that it was not based on a true definition of hope. Hope, as a verb, something we do, is based on reasonable expectations that the hoped for will come to pass. I looked up definitions and examples of this kind of hope. One thing they all had in common was the expectation that whatever it was would happen. One online dictionary put it this way: “1: to desire with expectation of obtainment, 2: to expect with confidence: trust.” [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/]

The best example and description I found is from the Bible verses of Hebrews 11. One version of the Bible put it this way: “Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].” [Hebrews 11:1, Amplified Version] I also liked the way The Message puts it: “The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see.”

Ah. There is true hope. Knowing the facts. Knowing the only One that can truly bring things into existence gives me hope that what He did at creation He can do in my life. Of course I have to hope for the things in alignment with what He wants. But, He wants so much for us. Probably not the 1965 Ford Mustang Convertible. Definitely the hope that we can live in this life with a firm foundation that makes life worth living. He wants us to be able to look around and rest securely. We can hope in His lovingkindness. True hope can bring gladness. We can expect plans for welfare and not for calamity to give [us] a future and a hope. We can be filled with joy and peace. He tells us we can expect righteousness, eternal comfort, and grace. Paul, a follower of Jesus, sums it up for me: hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us.
I now hope in those things. I carefully consider how and where I use the word “hope.” When I’m just wishing, I say I’m wishing. When I’m suggesting, I say I’m wishing. When I want good things to come to people, I wish or pray for them. I try to hope in the things that I can reasonably expect with confidence to obtain. That hope, based on the certainty that God can and will give me what I need, and so much more, more than wishing.