Pithy Sayings by Robin Densmore Fuson

 

What is hope?

Hope.

I hear and read this word a lot. Hope. I agree we need to have hope. We need positive things in our lives—words of encouragement, moments, and opportunities to cheer for.

What is hope?

Is hope a wish?

Does or should hope have substance?

We want to hope for something. We want to believe. “Believe in Hope” is a sentiment lacking a subject. It would be the same as saying, I believe in belief or I hope in hope.

Our hope and our belief needs a person, place, or thing.

 The hope of the Bible is knowing a future thing—confident, expectant knowledge that something is going to happen. We hope and pray, knowing that Whom we pray to hears us and answers our requests. As a believer and follower of the Lord, we build our lives on the hope that awaits us in Glory. Heaven. Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27b nkjv).

Another thing I hear often is, “Sending prayers your way.”

What does that mean? Can the one needing prayer answer their own prayers? Are they God?

God is the only One who can answer prayer. He created prayer as a means for us to communicate with Him. When we pray, we don’t pray to the one needing prayer but pray to the only One Who hears and answers our prayers.

Our prayers, our hope, and our belief should center on God, YHWH Jehovah Lord Adonai Jesus, to list a few of His names. Jesus taught us how and to whom to pray. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name (Matthew 6:9 nkjv). The entire example of prayer is in Matthew 6:9-13.

As Christians, we experience confidence in Jesus, Who conquered death and the grave.

Our hope is in Him and our belief is in Him. Jesus is the Great Physician and He chooses when, where, and how to heal. When I pray for you, my prayer rises to the Father Who holds everything in His hand, including yours and my existence.

We need to be discerning and enlightened about what may pass in front of us. Memes and songs can be cute and catchy but also some are lacking or flat out wrong. We need to be careful not to be swayed by pithy things. We need to lean into truth.

Proclaiming a pithy saying gives distorted assurance to others and shades truth into falsehood like murky waters can hide a mud bog or a predator.  

Don’t believe the lie—hoping for hope’s sake. Believe in God and His promises. And proclaim the same.