Day 9 – Why Is Hope So Important?

“This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion” Ecclesiastes 9:3-4 (NKJV).

(a) Hope reduces feelings of helplessness, increases happiness, reduces stress, and improves our quality of life. Hope, meaning, and purpose are three key ingredients that compose a recovery-oriented approach to living, but it all starts with hope. It is helpful for people in distress to dream of something better, with hope supplying the motivation to explore valued life goals and learn new skills to navigate new roads. Hope is a human emotion that is quantified and made tangible by the belief that we can overcome a specific challenge, and by taking an active role to persevere and see things through against all odds. Some people say that one of the most valuable strengths in life is being hopeful. But some may also think that hopeful and optimistic people are naive, or sometimes even foolish. However, experts say that hope greatly benefits our health and happiness. Which leaves us the question, why is hope so important in our life? "So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; If you have found it, there is a prospect, And your hope will not be cut off" Proverbs 24:14 (NKJV).

To have hope is to want an outcome that makes your life better in some way. It not only can help make a tough present situation more bearable but also can eventually improve our lives because envisioning a better future motivates you to take the steps to make it happen. Whether we think about it or not, hope is a part of everyone’s life. Everyone hopes for something. It’s an inherent part of being a human being. To know not to step in front of a fast-moving car can save our life. To see what we need to do to be able to provide for our family means we don’t become extinct. To be hopeless is to lose all motivation to do what we need to live. Hope helps us define what we want in our futures and is part of the self-narrative about our lives we all have running inside our minds. Hope is a human phenomenon; an elixir that is self-generated from within. Regardless of our differences as human beings, hope remains perhaps our most powerful tool for coping with the many challenges that life presents. “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality” Romans 12:10-13 (NKJV).

Hope is a curious or peculiar companion. At its peak, it offers joy and ecstasy. However, when deficient, hope can be the bringer of sadness, despair. If hope is extinguished enough, then, its deficit can kill. We are human and made to survive in the natural world. For our survival, nature kindly gave us basic, essential, desires to ensure we do the minimum necessary to live and thrive. Every day, whether we are aware of it or not, our brain is continually predicting our future to help us survive. We can also work to change our narrative. Hopelessness is based on an assumption; it is the brain saying what has happened before will happen again. It is to be in a deep, dark, well without a rope. It significantly influences the healing process both psychologically, emotionally, and physically. It decreases depression, anxiety, and stress. Having hope increases our overall well-being. Hope puts the hurt and pain into perspective and reminds us that things are forever changing. When we are at our lowest point, it is hope that lifts our head and shows us a path back toward something good. When you hope for a better future, you are placing trust in yourself to make good choices in life. When you trust someone, you hope that they will act in a way that embodies that trust. But hope helps us to see that there are many positive possibilities ahead of us. “And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.” Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” Romans 15:12-13 (NKJV).

Hope is an incredible strength and protective factor in our lives. There maybe times you are challenged with believing there is hope. Hopelessness is based on an assumption; it is the brain saying what has happened before will happen again. But it doesn’t have to. We can rewrite the story and make a realistic set of plans and goals that ensure we meet our basics as a person. We can turn despair into joy. Hope is nature talking to us. Hopelessness is a feeling that things will not and cannot change and creates a sense that there is no solution to a problem, which can be an increase to the risk of suicide. Whilst hopelessness is not a sole cause of suicide, having hope in our lives can significantly reduce the risk. Hope involves the active participation of body and mind to achieve the challenge before us. All facets of being human play a key role where hope is involved; cognitive, behavioral, emotional, physical, physiological, psychological, and spiritual. Thoughts that we have and emotions that we feel which ultimately change the architecture of the way our brain and body communicate with each other. Hope is a significant element of belief. Hope is what keeps the joy in your heart even when you don’t know what comes next. When we believe in something, our expectations guide us toward those beliefs. Our thoughts and feelings activate certain neurochemicals in our brain which in turn affect our bodies in positive ways. “With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling” Ephesians 4:2-4 (NKJV).