I Hope
Cal Sullivan
In the last scene of the movie ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, the narrator (Morgan Freeman) speaks these words:
"I find I’m so excited, I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel, a free man at the start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope."
For me, this is one of the best descriptions of hope & how it makes me feel: the anticipation and knowledge that, at the end of an uncertain & often unknown journey, there is an end that has been promised to us - an end to all suffering and hurt, an end filled with joy and peace, where we get to meet our Jesus.
So what is hope?
Biblical hope (‘elpis’ in Greek, ‘tikvah’ or ‘qavah’ in Hebrew) is a confident, certain expectation, rooted in the character of God. Unlike worldly hope - which is often a vague wish or a feeling of optimism – hope in the bible is a courageous, patient assurance that God will fulfil His promises.
Characteristics of hope
Biblical hope focuses on God's proven track record, making it a guaranteed reality, rather than a probability. It centres on the person of Jesus Christ, the ultimate object of hope, and the assurance of salvation and eternal life.
It pairs closely with faith:
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
Faith can be seen as the foundation, and Hope looks to the future.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)
The Holy Spirit is the crucial part of hope, something we often miss and think that hope is something we do alone. In Romans 15:13, and throughout the New Testament, the Holy Spirit acts as the source, guarantor, and fuel of a believer's hope
Beautiful and Precious
Hope is a precious and beautiful gift from God that acts as an anchor for the human soul - transforming how we experience the present, by changing how we view the future.
It is precious because in a world filled with cynicism, bad news, and disappointment, genuine, unwavering hope is rare. It cannot be taken by force. External circumstances can strip away a person's wealth, health, or freedom, but they cannot steal a person's hope - unless that person surrenders it.
It is bought with a price: it was secured through the sacrifice of Jesus. It is not cheap optimism; it is a costly, divine gift.
Hope is beautiful because it defies current reality. Hope allows a person to look at darkness, pain, or grief and see the light that is coming. It is a quiet defiance against despair. It builds resilience.
Hope changes our internal posture. It turns passive survival into active, patient endurance, because we know the struggle has a purpose and an expiration date.
It brings immediate peace - by anchoring the mind to a guaranteed, positive future, hope relieves the crippling weight of modern anxiety and fear right now.
So to close I would suggest you reread the first quote but from the context of your relationship with Jesus:
“I hope to see my friend.”
