Hope In Times Of Despair

Scripture: Romans 8:18:25

A sermon by R. Franklin Gillis, Jr.

Hope is a virtue deeply rooted in the Bible. It comes out of the many stories of crisis, despair and difficult times, and reveals how people of faith deal with adversity.

I recall reading a story that came out of World War II. A submarine had sunk in the Atlantic. Rescue teams went down in search of survivors. Locating the sunken sub, the frogmen listened outside the hull for any signs of life. Then one of them heard a tapping noise. Closer listening revealed that what he was hearing was a message in Morse code. Someone trapped inside was desperately trying to communicate. As each letter was tapped, the frogman translated: “I S T H E R E A N Y H O P E. The message was a question, “Is there any hope?” The frogmen quickly tapped a response: “Hope has arrived!”

Given the numerous problems we face in our nation and world, many are asking that same question today. “Is there any hope?” Certainly people affected by the disaster in Haiti, want to know. Persons who have lost their jobs and homes, and much of their savings want to know. Those who face major health issues and life-threatening diagnoses want to know. And those for whom life has lost meaning and purpose want to know. There are times in all of our lives that we ask that same profound question: “Is there any hope?”

So what leads one to have hope in times of despair? To find an answer to that question we must define hope as a Christian virtue, a spiritual gift from God. Hope is not simply wishful thinking. It is the focus on the positive energy that gives us strength to face life’s realities. Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Hope is the feeling that a desired outcome is possible, or that events will turn out for the best. Hope is grasping the ultimate truth about God’s grace and love revealed in Jesus Christ that sees one through every stage and phase of life’s journey.

In the Acts of the Apostles we are reminded that the Apostle Paul suffered many hardships during his life as a missionary. Yet he was steadfast in proclaiming a message of hope. This is what he wrote to the church at Rome: “What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8, selected)

A little over a year ago, moments after flight 1549 departed from the airport, these words spoken by the captain came over the intercom to the passengers: “Brace for impact!” Many of those passengers believed it meant to prepare for their final moment here on earth. But it wasn’t. Most of us saw what happened when the plane came down and landed in the Hudson. To our amazement many are now affirming that there was “hope in every breath” in those final moments before the plane’s crash landing. Now that a year has past, what has been called the “miracle on the Hudson” is being revisited by the survivors and stories being written and shared. There appears to be a consensus expressed by many: “The plane crash gave us hope and a renewed appreciation for life.” That day in those final moments before the plane hit the water many turned to God in prayer. Looking back on that experience, passenger Don Norton expresses it this way, “No matter what our challenges or struggles may be, it really doesn’t have to be so bad, so hopeless. We can still get up every day and appreciate the sunshine, and the rain. We can still breathe. We can still love.”

And as we all know and many of us saw, that plane skidded to a safe landing on the icy cold waters of the Hudson, guided by an experienced pilot. Ferry boats immediately came to their rescue as the anxious passengers waited on the wings of the plane. All 150 onboard that plane survived. It was indeed “the Miracle on the Hudson.” Dorothy Firman and Kevin Quirk are the authors of a new book, Brace for Impact: Miracle on the Hudson Survivors Share Stories of Near Death and Hope for New Life. In their research they learned of countless amazing acts of courage, grace, selflessness, and compassion. They wrote: “Something was guiding them, some force that brings out the best in the human condition. Many wondered if this was this some kind of sign. At our country’s time of economic turmoil, struggle, pain, and uncertainty, could this have been a signal that someone or something was looking out for us? That there was reason to hope? That something good really can come from something that looks bad – very, very bad?”

Having recalled that day’s event and the aftermath, caused me to think that in a way we are all “survivors” of sorts. We have faced life’s difficulties, challenges, battles and defeats. We’ve faced (or perhaps are facing) dark moments, and a situation when conditions appeared to be bleak. Most of us I suspect have had moments when we, like the passengers of flight 1549 have needed to “brace for impact” to survive. In such times we, too, have sought hope. And we have survived, by the grace of God! We, too, have been touched by grace. We have had compassionate hands reaching out to us in difficult times or wrapping us with care and support. We have been granted second chances. Hope appeared in some form through grace to enable us to not only survive but to thrive. That’s how hope works!

Edward Mote was a cabinet maker who became a Baptist minister where he served for 26 years in Sussex, England. In 1834 he was inspired to write the words to the hymn “My Hope Is Built.” The Sunday after he had written a couple verses and the chorus, following worship a parishioner informed Mote that his wife was very ill and asked him to visit. That afternoon Mote went their home. It was his usual custom during such a visit to sing a hymn, read a portion of scripture and offer a prayer. However, he failed to bring his hymn-book, but he did have with him the words from the newly written hymn, so he offered to sing it. The parishioner’s wife was deeply touched and appreciative of the song. Her positive response inspired Mote to write two more verses when he returned home. He had a thousand copies printed and distributed, and it soon became one of the most popular songs of its day. The message was clear and offered a word of hope for his dying parishioner. It has done the same for countless others in despair through the years.

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly trust in Jesus’ Name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand; All other ground is sinking sand.”

In times of despair, God is still performing miracles. The miracle on the Hudson is but one example of many. Miraculous stories are now coming out of Haiti and there will be many more in the days ahead. That will remind us of hope in times of seeming hopelessness and despair.

So God’s word to us today is this: “Hope has arrived!” It lifts us up when we are down. It provides encouragement in times of distress. It has the power to overcome doubt and conquer fear.

And that is the good news. Hope will see us through, no matter what! Our hope is built on that promise through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! So we sing with the saints of old: My hope is built on nothing less…” Thanks be to God for this spiritual gift that keeps on giving, no matter what life may bring our way. Hope abides! In the end, there is victory! God has the final Word. Thanks be to God!