I choose hope over despair.

Perspective is the way we view things, the lens through which we view our surroundings. One of my favorite sayings is “We see things not as they are, but as we are.” An optimistic person sees life through a positive filter, while a pessimistic person sees life through a negative filter.

There’s no shortage of bad news in the world today. The news media unloads troublesome tidings by the hour. According to their reports it will only get worse. The financial crisis, the slumping economy, the shrinking job market, and on and on goes the list. Between the bailouts and the pirates we have to wonder, what will happen next?  

Some people are giving up, having lost all hope, and are now throwing in the towel. It seems many people are “going through hell” right now. Thousands are apparently living in despair, discouraged, despondent, depressed and disgusted. Why try? Who cares? They are hopeless and helpless, having abandoned hope. George Weinberg once said “Hope never abandons you, you abandon it.” Hope is a choice.

Apostle Paul endured more than his share of troublesome times and writes the following about his plight: “…We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken. So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us” (2 Corinthians 4:8- 9, 16-17 The Message Bible).

I wholeheartedly concur with Apostle Paul that I choose hope over despair. This is an intentional choice I have made. I refuse to give in, give up, crash and burn, cave in to the pressure or be bullied into despair. Rather, I have hope for better days. Although it will probably get worse before it gets better, I’m still holding out for the better. I like Paul’s description that our hard times are ‘small potatoes’ compared to the coming good times. Someone said: “You've gotta have hope. Without hope life is meaningless. Without hope life is meaning less and less.”

Hope simply means to anticipate, usually with pleasure; expectation or confidence. Despair is simply to be utterly at a loss, i.e. despondent. Hope is expecting the best and anticipating good things, a bright uplook! Despair is accepting the worst and at a loss, despondent, with a dreary downlook!

The question is clearly, “How will you respond to the crises all around you?” Will you choose hope or accept despair? What is your perspective? Are you hopeful or in despair? Expecting good or have you accepted defeat? Christopher Reeve of Superman fame declared “Once you choose hope, anything's possible.” I choose hope and invite you to do the same!