Hope can be defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen. So, one might say “I hope to be more diligent in pursuing my goals for this New Year.”
But, there is a difference between biblical hope and an ordinary expression of hope. Biblical hope is a confident expectation and desire for something good in the future based on who God is. The foundation true hope is Jesus whom the Bible identifies as the God of hope!
Despite our progress in many areas of national life, there are dark clouds of despair that is threatening to further derail the progress and prosperity of our nation.
We meet to pray today because all is not well.
- All is not well when unemployment is at a historic low level of 4.5% while homicide in Jamaica is still at an intolerable level of approximately 46/100,000. (Jamaica has recorded over 1000 homicides each year for the last 20 years).
- All is not well when so many of our young people are busy “drifting” while our society has gone off course.
- All is not well when over 50% of our children are born outside of the stability and security marriage helps to provide.
- All is not well when despite greater access to education, some people have chosen to put their hope on winning big or “chopping di line” to fleece others out of their life savings.
- All is not well when only about 32% of registered voters choose to vote in our elections while increasing voter apathy is threatening to choke our stable democracy.
Yet, in the midst of such dark clouds of despair, there are brilliant rays of hope!
- Five boys choosing to take their injured friend and schoolmate to get urgent medical attention is a ray of hope.
- A taxi driver choosing to take the initiative to have a customer appreciation day is a ray of hope.
- Going after gangs and prosecuting them to the full extent of the law is a ray of hope.
- 20 consecutive quarters of positive economic growth and a tourism sector that keeps breaking records is a ray of hope.
The fact is that there are always both dark clouds of despair and brilliant rays of hope in our country. We can either choose to see the glass as half full or half empty.
I want to make it abundantly clear that no matter what is happening in our country and around the world, God is still in control. He’s got the whole world in his hands so we can choose hope!
When we choose hope, the light of hope will shine through the dark clouds of despair hanging over our country.
When we choose hope, the river of hope will can run through every family in this nation and bring a refreshing healing stream.
When we choose hope, the blanket of hope will comfort every hurting heart in the warmth of a neighbour’s love.
To choose hope is not to ignore the elephants in the room or bury our heads in the sand. Rather, to choose hope is to acknowledge that despite our problems, we can say “The sun shineth, the land is green and the people are strong and creative.”
To choose hope is to have an abiding conviction that things can be better. To choose hope is to put our shoulders to the wheel and trust God for the seemingly impossible in this country!