great Expectations

 

A wise elder once told me many years ago that ‘delayed hope crushes the heart’, a reference from Proverbs 13:12. It was during a season of waiting for an answer from someone who kept delaying his answer. In that context, it wasn’t exactly a ‘hope’ but more like a delay. And it crushed the future and destroyed the present as well. Nothing is more toxic than waiting on someone who is unsure yet lacks the courage to let go. And for years, I carried this trauma with me, the trauma of ‘waiting’ and detesting the word ‘hope.’ Let’s hope so- I hope so- hopefully, it will work out. All these terms reeked of 'maybes' and uncertainties, of people who walked around half-heartedly and with zero confidence and trust, even in themselves. My cousin (who is now a Pastor) once told me that the word he hates most in Nagamese (our Creole Street language) is ‘sabo’ (it means, 'let’s see') and is usually found most among church circles- when we ask people to volunteer (lol).- asking that same question we ask every church member, 

“Will you be able to help out during the ‘youth camp’? “

“Can you join the church band? “ 

The typical response is ‘sabo’ (let’s see). 

So, I have lived and endured with such terms around me, with the vocabulary of ‘hope’ tainted with doubts and uncertainty. Even Charles Dicken’s Great Expectations is the epitome of irony. Things are not how we expect them to be, nor turn out to be what we hope- and expect-

However, before I turn this into another Sylvia Plath Bell-Jar mode rant- we find that the word ‘hope’ in the Bible has a very different interpretation and reality. Hope in the Hebrew Bible is depicted only in a positive light. It is not a ‘maybe’ or a weak 'hopefully'-

The literal translation (tivkah) means ‘confident expectation’ or to wait in ‘eager anticipation.’  Joshua 2:18 Rehab (the prostitute) 'tied the cord in her window as a sign of hope (tivah) and salvation.' Jeremiah 29:11, ‘For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, they are plans to prosper you, to give you a future and a hope (tivah).’ And (yachal), which means ‘to expect.’ Psalm 130:3 ‘I wait expectantly for the LORD.’

And as I reflected on these scriptural reminders, my thoughts went in the direction of a concert venue!

I was in the front row in Bangalore a few years ago, where I attended the Alan Walker concert (VIP FAN PIT, and yes, my face is on the Kingfisher promo video, front row). And we waited- the fans- 60 thousand of us- we endured all the opening acts, the insane parking, the crowd, everything- pushed and shoved our way in the front- and we waited-- he wasn’t late by even a second- there was a timer on the LCD screen- the lights dimmed- and right on time, bam! Alan Walker was on stage, and we experienced the most amazing 2 hours of our lives; right there, our ears were cleansed with the fantastic sound, effects and lights- he did not disappoint- one of the best shows and shout out to the management and stage crew!

I am reminded of this ‘wait’ this concept of hope- from the Alan Walker show because we had this ‘confident expectation.’ 

We bought the tickets (VIP FAN PIT ARENA).

We had our wristbands, knew he would show up, and knew he was a fantastic DJ. (Scandinavians don’t disappoint). 

And the second he turned up on that massive stage, we all screamed- with joy, glee, and excitement.

And this is what ‘hope’ (tivah) looks like- when we place our hope in the LORD. 

This is the type of confident expectations we need to cultivate in our minds- to develop and structure our thoughts- not a delayed hope or a doubtful hopefully- sabo- 

And so, for those of us in a season of waiting (again), do not be dejected or wait with delayed hope less our hearts get crushed...

We wait not with "Great Expectations" but with 'CONFIDENT EXPECTATION' knowing that the plans God has for us are good. (every good gift comes from the Lord, James 1:17 and Jeremiah 29:11).

We wait with the excitement of fans, cheering at a concert venue when the lights dim down- knowing that what we wait for, will show up and it will be a great show; our hope FULFILLED.