The Power of Hope

A recent TIME article about optimistic people got Brad thinking about the fact that hope in the face of uncertainty is not a rational thought. And yet, we as humans have a tremendous capacity to find hope even in the midst of tragedy. That launches a discussion with Wayne about how to find hope if you're not an optimistic person by nature and how pursuing hope in Jesus leads us to a deeper kind of prayer life that moves beyond just getting Jesus to fix our circumstances the way we want and invites us to connect with a larger perspective and purpose than our own.

Podcast Links:
The Optimism Bias in TIME Magazine
Orphanage Relocation in Kenya

13 Comments

  1. I appreciate this podcast. Thank you for it. The only issue I have is when your lack of hope comes from illness. The ability to look past things to God is easier when you lost a job, or even your house. But when a sick person has a constant pain or cancer or whatever it may be, its almost impossible to keep your focus on the fact that god has not left you. Like you guys were saying , maybe we just need to change the subject and not pitch your tent in the pain, or tell a joke or whatever, but for the person who is often or always sick, this is very very difficult to do.
    Thanks again for this.

  2. I tried to listen but found the sound dodgy, Brad only on the left & Wayne on the right.

    I agree with Randy, it can be a challenge to remain hopeful when ill, especially if it is chronic.

  3. I agree with Karen! If I listen to this podcast it feels as if I would sit on a line with With Wayne on the left side and Brad on the right side. If the one talks I try to turn, so I can hear him better 😉 … This recording needs much more concentration and because english is not my native language it is twice as hard!

    Please change the recording so I can hear you both in front of me … like we were sitting in a triangle!

    Greetings from Germany,
    Guido

  4. The Weeble Wobble thing stuck in my head all day. It’s all Brad’s fault.

    On a technical note — the stereo thing bothered me too. I spent the first 10 minutes trying to figure out how to make iTunes go to mono (never did figure it out).

  5. I listened to this one twice . . . in a row! Intrigued! I understand that “hope” as used in the Bible is translated from Greek and Hebrew, and does not mean our modern day “wish upon a star” meaning. The original words for hope mean “certainty,” as in I embrace in the certainty of God. So I don’t have to cross my fingers and wish for God’s goodness. I am certain in his goodness and love for me. These thoughts unfolded throughout the day yesterday, and I woke up with it, so that means you guys are provoking. Thanks!

  6. I listened to this one twice . . . in a row! Intrigued! I understand that “hope” as used in the Bible is translated from Greek and Hebrew, and does not have our modern day “wish upon a star” meaning. The original words for hope mean “certainty,” as in I embrace in the certainty of God. So I don’t have to cross my fingers and wish for God’s goodness. I am certain in his goodness and love for me. These thoughts unfolded throughout the day yesterday, and I woke up with it, so that means you guys are provoking. Thanks!

  7. I also smiled at the “Weeble” effect : ) Reminds me of Jesus’ story about building a house on a rock rather than sand…well said Brad : ) Must say how much I appreciate that you don’t give slick or easy answers. Even in the discussions of these tragedies (and we all could name suffering in our lives) it’s so helpful to have the conversation without having to “make it go somewhere”. It seems that God wants to work this out in ways uniquely suited to each individual in their way of responding to Him in the midst of tragedy or loss.

  8. Bill Ooms wrote: “On a technical note — the stereo thing bothered me too. I spent the first 10 minutes trying to figure out how to make iTunes go to mono (never did figure it out).
    That is not possible for me. I copy it to a mp3 player, which does not have an mono mode 🙁

  9. Excellent talk guys.

    @Berna: That is the single best explanation ever! In the religious world, hope is about tomorrow, at least in my experiences. Certainty:, i.e. The Rock called Christ is much better.

    @Sue: Amen! It is so refreshing to not have to have the answers or have it all figured out all the time.

    Not sure if this helps – the audio is in mono; I believe it pans back and forth – checked it out in Audacity (to attempt stero to mono) but there is only one track…

    If you can manage, it is worth a listen. Pretend you are in a restaurant over hearing two guys talking to each other from across the dining room, and your hearing aid battery is getting weaker. lol

  10. We had some changes made to our recording system this week and didn’t realize that the audio had Brad and me talking from two sides of the room. We have rebuilt and reloaded it so the current version shouldn’t give you the same problem… Sorry for the difficulty there.

  11. Musing on the question of having hope in the midst of tragedy (especially chronic illness): I wonder if it’s the nature of tragedies in our lives that they uncover our most deeply-held beliefs (or unbeliefs) about what God is like and how he sees us. I’m not talking about our theologically-formed beliefs of adulthood (though those might also be in play), but about the inherited beliefs of childhood, the ones that we may not consciously even know are there.

    If that’s the case, perhaps our direction back to hope can be found in a variation of Wayne’s prayer about knowing God’s love in the moment: Father, please reveal to me what it is that I don’t know about you or about myself that stands between me and hope in this moment.

    Then expect that he will show us.

  12. Many thanks Wayne & Brad for this podcast…. as always refreshing. Last week I found this quote by Samuel Smiles where he says : “Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.” That’s why I’ve always liked your title “God Journey”…. reminding us that this is a journey.

    Depending on the road travelled … it is a constanting walking it out. This past year I have been doing a lot of walking … to try and make things clear in my mind, to find answers for my struggles or just plain walking off the dust that has gather on me. In those walks I have found the LORD faithful.

    Are things clearer? No. Do I still have struggles? Yes. Do have still have dust on me? Constantly. But this I do know HE is my hope and I’ll just keep on walking for it brings my reconciliation with HIM. In that I look forward to. Many thanks & blessings.

Comments are closed.