Chaplain

Hope is an elusive concept yet essential for the human condition. The current situation in our country and across the world can feel unsettling and concerning, weighing on our minds. The future may look uncertain and our norms are changing. We long for hope as the parched desert longs for rain.

Hope is often thought of as a positive outlook. Wishing for the best, looking for opportunities in the downs or dwelling on the good. But if the situations around us seems quite dark and unending, this optimism is hard to sustain. Real sustaining hope must be more.

Hope is sometimes seen as the confidence that one has succeeded previously and so will be able to navigate the future as well. However, many of us have not always succeeded and in the face of the entirely unimagined scenarios, this can only raise doubts. Real sustaining hope must be more.

Hope is often seen as trust in the collective good of humanity to overcome whatever obstacle. Certainly we have seen acts of kindness. Our government was quick to extend compassionate payments to sustain the economy. Our most resourceful are working towards cures and vaccines. However, we have seen some selfish acts and our track record over the last one hundred years shows that trust in the collective good may not be justified. Real sustaining hope must be more.

Hope in the bible is knowing with certainty that God is faithful. The knowledge that Jesus is trustworthy to keep his promises. He has demonstrated this by fulfilling the promises from the Old Testament. Jesus promised that he would rise from the dead and he did. Biblical hope is based on the unchangeable nature of God that nothing catches God by surprise and he has all things in hand. He says if one trusts him he promises to work for their good. This means our hope is that while it is bleak at present, God is still active and will work his ultimate good purpose. We have hope as the eternal perspective sustains us through the turbulence of now.

Biblical hope means we have optimism, not based on wishful thinking, but on the promises of God. This gives us confidence that we can face any and all situations with Christ in our hearts as strength and comfort. It means that in the face of fickle humanity, we know that God is not fickle but entirely good and determined to provide a good future.

So the hope of the Christian is real and sustaining as we look back and see how Jesus’ death and resurrections save us and look forward to eternity. The eternal perspective holds us secure by the love and goodness of God.

Ms Bronwyn Lihou
Senior Campus Chaplain
blihou@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9830

Ms Fiona McKenzie
Junior Campus Chaplain
fmckenzie@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9897