The Power of Hope

June 26th, 2024
by Mikal Duncan

For the next several weeks, we will have guest authors for our Words for Wednesday. Today our guest author is Mikal Duncan. Enjoy!

The Power of Hope

Have you ever heard of a “power triad”? A triad can be any group of three, a trio, like three notes in a musical chord. But a power triad distinguishes itself by its strength and effect. The most famous power triad is the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Did you know there’s a power triad in 1 Corinthians 13:13? “Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.” This trio’s power is its formula for living for Christ. Like a true triad, the three parts are a unit, interrelated, interdependent. They are meant to be applied in union, not separately. Faith is listed first because it is the foundation that hope stands on. And love is faith and hope in action.

Here’s what I wonder. Do we forget that there are 3 members of that triad? Do we stress faith and love, but treat hope a bit too loosely? We say, “Hope you have a nice day; hope you feel better; hope it doesn’t rain…” There’s nothing wrong with hope like that. But Biblical hope is more than a wish. As one-third of the triad, hope is a “living hope” (1 Peter 1:3), powerful and effective. Hebrews 6:19 says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” (Not wishful!)

The Hebrew word for hope comes from the root word “Qavah” (ka-VAH). It means to wait patiently and to expect. Waiting is a huge part of hoping. But Qavah also means a “cord” or “rope”, twisted or woven and very strong, able to withstand tense pulling and stress. You could say that hope is a rope, connecting you to what you hope for.

Rahab’s scarlet cord is a great example. Her story is in Joshua, chapters 2 and 6. As the only citizen of Jericho to put their faith in the Hebrew God, she collaborated with the Hebrew spies in exchange for her safety and her family’s. She hung a red cord (Qavah) from her window in the city wall so that the Hebrew army would know she should be spared. Her hope was more than a wish; it was an expectation and expression of her faith. Her hope was an actual rope! And we know her hope was fulfilled, and she eventually became part of the lineage of Jesus Christ. That’s truly faith, hope, and love.
Hope is your rope too. Don’t underestimate it. Cultivate it as part of the power triad! Hope “does not disappoint.” (Romans 5:5)

These are your Words for Wednesday.
God bless you.
Mikal