Easter was a week ago. For Christians, Easter is every day. It’s the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection and God’s gift of grace and redemption. We are promised eternal life if we believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection. His death paid the penalty for our disobedience (a.k.a. sin) and now we don’t have to pay that penalty. We are filled with hope and His Holy Spirit. We are Easter people – people of hope. Let’s be that every day.
What does that look like? Being an Easter person – a person of hope. Let me define hope with the help of Merriam Webster.
1: to desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment
2 : to expect with confidence : trust
Let’s start with #1. Hope is when I have an expectation that something will come to be. I desire it to be so I hope it’ll happen. I may have to wait along time. I may never get some things I hope for. I have been told by many to lower my expectations or else I will just get disappointed. In some parts of my life, that is true. However, when it comes to the plans God has for me, I can expect away. I can’t see or even know all that is before me. I do know that I hope for all the things He has planned. I look forward to His plans unfolding before me. I don’t always wait patiently. I usually wait very impatiently. Sorry God. When it comes, or even just a piece of it comes, I rejoice and give God glory. I see Him show up daily. This is hope – pieces of life and God’s plan unfolding before me. I can trust in that.
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
~ Romans 8:24-25 NIV
Definition #2 is my favorite because it is expectation with confidence. I find that I have less and less confidence in things happening the way I expect. However, in my faith, this shouldn’t be the case. I want to live with hope that is confident. I can because that is the very definition of faith – confidence in what we hope for. I can trust God and His promises. I can’t trust my plan but I can trust in His.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Ultimately, hope is Jesus. There is no hope without Jesus. I can hope it’ll be sunny tomorrow. I can hope my car makes it to the gas station before the tank runs dry. I can hope my kids thrive. I can’t guarantee these things. I can guarantee that Jesus will be with me whatever the weather. Jesus will provide a way if my car runs out of gas. I can know that Jesus walks with my children every step they take. Jesus is my hope in all things and He himself is hope.
For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
~ I Thessalonians 2: 19-20 NIV
Let’s be Easter people – people of hope. When Jesus is your hope, you are safe to live expectantly and in confidence. Let’s be Easter people every day.
Dream Big! Pray Big!