Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head

     “I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow.”   These words have probably been on the lips of children and adults alike this summer here in Texas.   We have had one of the rainiest summers on record, forcing kids to stay inside instead of enjoying the outdoors, and making adults worry about rising flood waters potentially damaging their property.  

     If we examine what is behind these words, we may learn something about the nature of hope itself.   First of all, hope expresses dissatisfaction with the present circumstances we find ourselves in.   It could be even stronger feelings like “hating” the present situation or “fearing” where a series of events is leading.

     Everyone in North Texas believed we were in need of rain this year.   Our lake levels were down, severely forcing watering restrictions and limiting recreational activities like fishing and boating.   It started raining in late May, continued right on through June, and even into July.   Before long, the rains got very old.   Neighborhoods experienced flooding, properties were severely damaged, and people actually suffered injury and death.   The lake levels were restored, but it went so far as to make it impossible to enjoy the lakes now because there was “too much” water.   So, if somebody said, “I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow,” they are expressing feelings of frustration, aggravation, dislike, hate, and fear over what all this rain is doing to our area.  

     The other side of hope, though, believes that a real possibility exists that things are going to get better and that our worst fears may not be realized after all.   The clouds have to leave some time, right?   The sun is eventually going to shine on us again!   This rainy season has been tough on everyone and downright scary at times, but deep inside we believe that we will see the weather pattern break, and we will be safe and happy again.

     Now the Bible tells us in 1 Peter 1:3 that God has “begotten us to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”   I think that this hope is very close to the hope I described above.   As Christians, we cannot help but be dissatisfied, anxious, tired, or even fearful over the present world circumstances we find ourselves in.   The pressures of this life cause frustration and aggravation, and sadly we see a lot of damage, injury, and death all around us, sometimes to our closest loved ones.  

     In Christ, though, we have a living hope.   That is, we have a belief in the very real possibility that things are going to get better and that our worst fears are not going to be realized.   We believe that God cares about us and our situation, and that He is there to help us face life's storms with faith and courage.   That makes a bad situation a whole lot better.   This existence is not the end of the story either.   Man's worst fear may be that there is nothing after death.   As Christians, we believe this is not all there is.   We have an inheritance waiting for us, in heaven, and nothing can take that away!

     I hope it does not rain tomorrow, either.   I would like to wake up and read that the war is over, world hunger has been ended, a cure for cancer has been found, and nobody has been defrauded, assaulted, or abused.   Chances are, though, it will still be raining.   I will still owe money on bills, I will still have to work hard to earn a living, and I will still be faced with many frustrations, fears, and dislikes of living in this world.   I will not be hopeless, though, because God is with me through it all, and ultimately this is not all there is to my existence.   Through Jesus Christ, I have a living hope that things will eventually get better, either here or there, and my worst fears will not be realized after all.