The Influence of Hope Within Us.

Hope is defined as a feeling of confidence in the future that leads us to expect, with certainty or probability, the fulfillment of a desire. This term encompasses both a general human expectation and a religious virtue or a precise mathematical concept. I have identified several effects of hope on human beings, and here are the results. Some psychological effects: Stress reduction / It diminishes the fear of the unknown and calms the mind in the face of uncertainty. Motivation for action / It provides the necessary courage to keep moving forward despite obstacles. Increased resilience / It helps us absorb shocks and better navigate periods of crisis or grief. Some existential and spiritual effects: A sense of meaning / It instills a reason to act and to expect a better future, far beyond mere optimism. Inner grounding / It serves as a solid point of support when reality becomes difficult or painful. Transformation of the present / It changes our perspective on the world, preventing resignation and structuring our lives in anticipation of positive outcomes. At this time, hope reigns supreme for many. It is the primary reason why so many people, burdened by a particular weight in their hearts, choose to act. Hope is beautiful; it is like a friend present in difficult times. It is faithful and loyal. It is the one who, with a gentle touch, wipes away invisible tears. It consoles and brings forth life from within. Hope is trustworthy; it does not betray… Whether or not we see it clothed in the garment of our fulfillment, it remains and does not betray us. Hope is like a woman; it allows itself to be desired until the moment it says yes. Then it reveals itself and brings happiness, joy, and peace after a long wait. But we must not take it for granted, thinking that it should no longer be desired as before. For, indeed, the driving force that renews its value is a heart that pronounces its name again and again. A heart that never tires of saying, “I hope, I hope, yes, I hope.” Hope is elegant and mysterious at the same time. It adorns itself with dreams like jewels, it dances on the clouds of the horizon announcing a better future, it speaks with gentleness and love, whispering to those who listen, “I will not leave you.”

She hides yet reveals herself at the same time, she makes us dance on one foot and then the other to the rhythm of probability. As I said, hope is like a woman. But not just any woman; she is comparable to a good woman. She sits at the table of Esther, Ruth, and Zipporah, conversing about a better future. She is also the advisor of Naomi, Mary, and Abigail, lending her words, always tinged with a touch of comfort. She is at the side of Daniel, Job, and David, speaking to them as a wife speaks to her husband: that is to say, with a pronounced hint of delicacy, she shows us prospects of a better future that have been almost eaten away by doubt and questioning. Hope does not deceive and remains with the one who desires her. For men, she would be comparable to a good woman; for women, to a good friend or a sister; and for both, to a mother. She gave birth, she revealed her essence to those who eagerly awaited the coming of Jesus Christ, our Savior. It is to her that we still cling today for the return of our Lord. Even today I believe, yes, I believe that she continues to reveal her essence to those who remain faithful to her. Hope is like the fragrance one smells on the garment of a loved one when remembering them or impatiently awaiting their return. To the person who hopes for a better future for their country, it gives the strength to work; to the mother who prays every day for her children's success, it gives profound conviction; to the man who fights for his present and his future, it strengthens his shoulders against the burden he carries every day; to the one who doubts their identity, it reminds them of God's promises; to the one who has forgotten their worth, it reminds them of God's love and shows them a future filled with happiness… And to all peoples who accept it, it bears witness to a better life. No, hope does not deceive. It cannot lie. It always keeps its word without depending on the individual's existence or the reckoning of their soul. As long as we have it, let us not despise it, but on the contrary, let us increase its value by hoping against all hope. For just as the flower responds to photosynthesis, hope responds to the rays of that which defines it.

So let us hope against all hope.

Thank God for the gift of hope. Amen.

Luyeye Watoma Emmanuelle.