I’ve heard the phrase and know what it means; continuing to hope, although it seems unlikely that what you hope for can happen. The operative word is “seems” because it’s subjective. Are you an optimist, pipe-dreamer, pessimist or somewhere in between? More importantly, in what or whom do you put your trust?
It seems to me that I’m meant to do this (writing with the hope of inspiring or helping people) because over the years my perspective has been from one extreme to the other. I have gone from happy and optimistic, disappointed and angry, frustrated and skeptical, from the back side of a mule to humble and grateful. The common denominator of the not-so-lovely times was a lack of faith. When I took circumstances into my own hands without prayer, the results were not good. BUT, looking back, there was always one person or friend God sent to listen, comfort or guide me. Even when I left Him, He did not leave me. When I realized that, there’s no better reason to be hopeful and to want others to know.
We have all sinned and deserve God’s judgment but God, the Father, sent His only Son to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in Him. Jesus, the Son of God, who lived a sinless life, willingly hung on the cross and died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day.
The meaning of Easter is Jesus Christ’s victory over death. His resurrection symbolizes the complete verification of all that Jesus preached and taught during His ministry. If He had not risen from the dead, if He had only died and not been resurrected, He would have been only a teacher or prophet. However, His resurrection changed everything and gave final and irrefutable proof that He’s the Son of God and He conquered death once and for all.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17
If you believe and put your trust in Him, “hope springs eternal” isn’t just optimism – it is absolute truth.
This reminds me of the Footprints in the Sand poem. “”Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You’d walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
there was only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”
He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.” ❤