Hope in Pope
- The Narrow Path
- Jun 28, 2024
- 2 min read
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you (Psalm 33: 20-22, NIV).
Several months back our physical therapy clinic put a survey on our chalkboard that said: “Hope in Pope?” The options for answers were: yes, no, meh, and who?
For those of you that are in the “who” category, the question referred to whether or not people had hope in the new Kentucky men’s basketball head coach, Mark Pope. It created some fun conversation, and stirred excitement as we discussed our hopes, and dreams for next season.
Where do you place your hope? It’s a question that I’ve spent some time asking myself lately.
Do you place your hope in your work? Do you place your hope in your kids’ sports performance? Do you place your hope in the balance of your banking account? Do you place your hope in your retirement plans? Do you place your hope in a political figure or a Hollywood star? Do you place your hope in young men on a basketball court?
If we really took time to assess our hearts, I think we might be surprised at the answers we find.
As long as I’m successful in my job, I’ll be happy. As long as my kids perform, I can feel good about myself as a parent. As long as I’ve got a certain amount of money, I feel secure. As long as I’ve got a retirement plan, I am hopeful about my future. As long as candidate X gets elected, our country is in a good place. As long as Kentucky wins in March, I’ll be happy.
Yikes. Do any of these statements resonate with your heart? I’d sure love to say the answer is a resounding no for me, but that wouldn’t be completely truthful.
I have to be careful not to allow my security to be found in my bank account. I have to be intentional not to let the joy of my heart be impacted by the outcome of a basketball game. I have to be mindful not to allow my spirit to be led by an election.
When we look to the Word of God we are reminded of our ultimate hope. Psalm 33:20-22 says: “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.”
Though I do have “Hope in Pope”, I am prayerful and want to be intentional not to allow the joy of my heart to rise and fall with outcomes related to my job, bank account, performances, or elections. Will you join me in this, and help hold me accountable, too?
Comments