A story is told of Four Candles which burned slowly. Their ambience was so soft it was as if you could hear them speak one to another. The first candle said, “I am called Peace, but these days, nobody wants to keep me lit.” Then Peace’s flame slowly diminished and went out completely. The second candle said, “I am called Faith, but these days, I am no longer indispensable.” Then Faith’s flame slowly diminished and went out completely. Sadly the third candle speaks, “I am Love and I haven’t the strength to stay lit any longer. People put me aside and don’t understand my importance. They even forget to love those who are nearest to them.” Waiting no longer, the flame Love went out completely. Suddenly, a child entered the room and saw the three candles were no longer burning. The child began to cry, “Why are you not burning? You are supposed to stay lit until the end!” Then the fourth candle spoke gently to the little child, “Don’t be afraid, for I am Hope, and while I still burn, we can re-light the other candles.” With shining eyes, the child took the candle of Hope and lit the other three candles.
That is what hope does it gives man the ability to re-light love, peace and faith in his life. Hope means to cherish a desire with anticipation or to want something to happen or be true. Many times we hope that something will be true but until it happens we don’t know for certain that it will. Time and again are lives become full of difficulties it appears that love, faith and peace are far from us. However the holy scripture the Bible asks the question ‘Why art thou cast down, O my soul?’ Why have you lost your love, peace and faith? Not only that though it says ‘why art thou disquieted in me?’ There is anxiety in the soul, it is troubled, and it is filled with apprehension. Not unlike the child in the story. The room had become dark and she couldn’t see well. Therefore her soul was disquieted something wasn’t right. The verse continues and explains the formula to remove the apprehension. It says ‘hope thou in God:’. To remove the anxiety that can build up inside man they need to hope in something that is greater than them, that is God. He is the supreme God, the creator of heaven and earth therefore men can hope in him. He will not let them down. The verse finishes by saying ‘for I shall yet praise him who is the health of my countenance, and my God.’ Psalm chapter 42 verse 11. Looking at the face of God contemplating his presence is what will thrill our souls and take away the disquiet. That hope in God will bring health back to our soul. It makes a sick soul well. It will heal the broken hearted, lift up the fallen and cause the soul to rejoice once more. Hope is what will bring peace, faith and love back into our lives as hope will reignite the flame to burn brightly for him. God is our hope, and he never fails us so we can trust in him.
P. Pilgrim pilgrimway101@yahoo.com
