The business community has an old saying, ‘hope is not a strategy,’ in reference to wishing, hoping and dreaming for better results, without any tangible indicators for change.
People can be like that as well. How many times have you said,
- “I hope he will change”
- “I hope my teacher gives me better grades this semester”
- “I hope my boss won’t be mad that I’m coming in late – again”
- “I hope traffic won’t be bad on my way to the concert”
- “I hope my mom will finally accept my partner as a loving person and stop complaining”
Any of those sound familiar?
They are all based on the flawed thinking that saying the word, “Hope” is like saying the words,“When you wish upon a star…” it’s an unfounded wish based on personal desires, with nothing to back it up outside of your own opinion.
That’s why it fails.
Wrong thinking brings wrong conclusions – never results.
Is there a better way?
Yes.
Clinical research into the brain has shown how nerve pathways, (white matter), flow out from the brain cells, (grey matter) to create profound change. We now know hope is a strategy because of the emerging science of epigenetics and neuroplasticity.
The brain can only follow nerve pathways which are reinforced with repetitive thought for good, or for bad.
Consider the terrible war in Vietnam. Thousands of soldiers were affected; some were even captured and tortured like John McCain. However, instead of being defeated by his prisoner of war status, McCain came back driven to do more for his country and became a respected United States Senator who ran for President of the United States. How did he get that strength? Hope. Read about his life story and you will come away with the profound sense that he never gave up on freedom, he kept the hope of a better day alive in his thinking – even from a terrible concentration camp.
John McCain didn’t know he would be a leading voice about conservative values to shape the thinking of an entire country, but he did know what he believed. Even in the worst of circumstances he had hope and that hope supercharged his thinking with new power to press on. That’s why I read biographies of others who overcame the challenges with their deep hope to fuel me with deeper hope.
When I read the words ‘Hope in God’ I am reflecting my confidence in God’s strength and power instead of my own.
When I read scriptures about hope, it’s a reflection of the power source that kept people like King David, Moses, St. Paul, Jeremiah, Joshua and every other character outlined in the Scriptures moving forward. They put their hope into God’s hands. They prayed for God’s will to be done and then kept going. They didn’t view hope as a selfish outcome; rather they hoped for God’s outcome. They didn’t wish for others to change- they allowed God to change them. They didn’t pray for comfort, they prayed for the courage to press on in hope. And that blessed hope changed the world, and still has the power to change your world as well.
Hope is about you, and what God can do inside you.
When you read these verses – what do you hear?
“I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says the Lord, “Thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13
35 years ago a Christian Counseling center opened in Central Florida because 50 years ago a fourth grade boy learned hope is the best strategy. I have personally seen thousands of lives changed by hope. People, who experienced changed marriages, restored families and better careers because they hoped for what God could do. They put their hope into how God’s Spirit could reshape their thinking to become better, do more, start again, forgive and heal.
Hope isn’t a new force.
Hope has always been there, just waiting to be awakened inside you.
Hope isn’t about wishing for the other person to change.
Hope is allowing God to stir up your gifts, your potential and purpose in your corner of the world. God does want to change others – He just wants to start with you first.
When St. Paul maps out the sources of power in 1 Corinthians 13 he talks about three emotions – Faith, Hope and Love.
All three are better strategies than wishing for someone else to make your life better because all three start inside you.
You can think better thoughts and you can pray for God to change your situation. Just remember – that prayer is answered first inside of you.
When you pray for God to change you, your situation will change and your deepest hopes will be realized.
Why?
Simple. Hope really is the best strategy.
About the Author –
Dwight Bain guides leaders in rewriting their life story through the power of creative change.
Follow him across all social media @DwightBain
