Hope. Society’s catch-all word for wishes, dreams, wants, and needs. It’s uttered as almost a mantra or an invocation for something better. What is hope?
The Oxford Dictionary defines it as a noun depicting a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
The Biblical explanation of hope is a strong confidence that GOD will grant us the blessing of His favor for what we desire in the future.
Two very similar definitions yet one has its foundations in the temporal plane and the other is founded on faith in GOD.
Hope seems to have become a throwaway word in our society, ubiquitous in its use with little passion or strength behind its use. It’s tossed out like we toss aside annoying pebbles in our path. Hope builds bridges, it opens doors, gives life to dreams, and yes, it gives birth to miracles
Chasing hope—the pursuit of a positive outcome in the face of overwhelming odds founded in the faith of a greater power.
I think all of us believe we know what hope is until we’re faced with a situation that tests our inner strength: a loved one is in the midst of a devastating situation or we face a cataclysmic diagnosis. Then each of us begins to hope for a miracle, a cure, help.
Where do you find strength, hope? We are the masters of that choice. When we hope, we are placing faith and trust in someone or something beyond ourselves: medicine, doctors, professionals, researchers, experts, the universe, GOD. When you place your faith in another human, you’re trusting in their ability and wherever they derive their strength.
My strength and hope come from GOD. Through life’s difficulties, losses, and yes, a cancer diagnosis, I’ve always turned to Him. I could tell you that I’ve always been at peace from the start of any crisis because of my faith, but that wouldn’t be true. I struggle at the moment of discovery, stunned and dumbfounded. I need time to process; then I turn to my Creator for help and strength. (Psalm 46:1)
This personal journey, this pursuit of hope, often requires self-reflection and analysis; a deep dive into what makes us tick. Rarely do we actively seek introspection, but there are times when it is thrust upon us by virtue of circumstances in which we find ourselves. We contemplate the meaning of life, what we’ve accomplished, and what we’ve yet to pursue in the quest to put our mark on the world. In our odyssey for hope, we deliberate over what we have and haven’t accomplished. This trek takes us down a rabbit hole of what “might have been,” “could have been,” “do I still have time?” While our mind is down in that maze of a rabbit warren visualizing a future that may or may not come to fruition, we shoot for the moon, go for broke because, “what do we have to lose?” Oddly enough, chasing hope could actually create an opportunity to explore who you were always meant to be. The sky’s the limit.
This can be a ridiculously freeing experience; it just depends on your mindset: is your glass half full or is it half empty? No one wants a life-altering illness, and I’m not recommending it as a catalyst to jump-start your life plan. What I’m saying is those who have stood toe-to-toe with their mortality look at everything differently. Your emotions ride on the surface, easily set off by the highs and lows of life. You feel everything more intensely. It can be a blessing and a curse. You enjoy the pleasures, the experiences, and adventures so much more because you realize that tomorrow may not come. Yet, your emotional pain is more intense because you may fall into the trap of regretting and mourning what you might miss. Notice the word “might.” no-one is guaranteed tomorrow.
Yes, we all face mortality, but cancer changes you. It alters how you see life. It reorders your priorities. This is raw, and in your face, but it’s real. I speak from experience and from the heart. I want you to see your possibilities without having the thought of your demise gnawing at your heels.
These are difficult times, frightening moments when the reality of death is staring you in the face. This is when things get real, and you need honesty. I asked my doctor, “What is my prognosis?” I turned to my husband, “How much life insurance do I have?” These are honest questions that came on the heels of my cancer diagnosis. This can make or break you. Hope provides an opportunity for a future, a purpose when many would speculate that you should or would be thinking your life is over. You can chase hope or tumble into the pit of “ain’t it awful.”
Chasing hope is the beginning of my journey. Who knows where this adventure will take me? It’s a wild ride that I didn’t choose, but I refuse to live in the pit. I’m always aiming for the stars.
May 24, 2025
