Dangerous Hope
Dangerous Hope
Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God. (Ps. 146:5)
Hopeless or Hopeful?
The movie Shawshank Redemption is a story about two men who become friends in prison. Red is serving a life sentence for a murder he committed. Andy is serving two life sentences for murders he did not commit. One day they are talking and the conversation turns to hope. Red says, “Let me tell you something, my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.” Later in the movie Andy writes in a letter to Red, “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things. And no good thing ever dies.”
Hope’s Object
So which is it? Is hope a dangerous thing, or is hope a good thing? The psalmist might say that it all depends. It depends on where our hope lies. Placing our hope in people, events, or circumstances is a dangerous thing because we can’t rely on those things. They provide no guarantees, no warranties, no control, and no power to back up the promises they make. But if we place our hope in God, we will not be disappointed (though we will often have to wait, and we will sometimes be confused while we’re waiting). God stands behind His promises. He backs up His Word. He has proven Himself faithful over and over again. He is a God you can count on. He is a God we can place our hope in.
Bottom Line
Where is your hope? If it’s not in God but in something else, you will eventually be disappointed.