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Hope vs Expectation

In two different meetings I was in recently the conversation came up regarding the difference between hope and expectation.  In preparing for the First Sunday of Advent, where the theme is “hope”, it seemed like a natural topic to discuss.  I took the time to look up the definition of each word and this is what I found.  Expectation: a strong belief that something will happen or a belief that someone will or should achieve something.  Hope: to cherish a desire with anticipation; to want something to happen or be true.

I have always associated expectations with the business world.  In that world there is an expectation that you will achieve certain goals set for you and perform at a competent level.  Your boss does not hope you will do your job, they expect you to do your job and if you don’t, it won’t be your job for long.  Expectation on a personal level can often lead to disappointment and stress.  In this season of preparation, both at church and at home, many parents are stressed about meeting their family’s expectations for Christmas.  Buying the perfect gift; creating memories that will last a lifetime; preparing the best turkey dinner with all the fixins that anyone has ever had.  And for those who struggle financially, trying to manage the many challenges this season presents.

But we are people of hope.  Or at least we are called to be.  In the definition of hope we see words like anticipation and truth.  We live in anticipation of the second coming of Jesus, as this season reminds us.  We live believing in the truth we hear from John the Baptist this week that the rough ways of life will be made smooth and that we will see the salvation of God.

If you were in a conversation with your most trusted confidant and they asked you what you were currently hoping for, what would your answer be?  I was asked this week what my expectation was for this Advent and what my hope was.  I answered as honestly as I could.  I said my expectation was for the season to be busy both at church and at home and that I would be doing my best to manage the anxieties the season can bring in preparation for the season that’s coming.  My hope is that, for the first time in my life, I could truly enter into the spirituality of this season and be present to the peace that can come from joyful anticipation. 

People hope for many things.  We hope for good weather this time of year if we have plans to travel.  If we don’t currently have it, we hope for financial stability.  We hope our kids and grandkids do well in school and in life.  If we, or someone we love, are going through illness of any kind, we hope for healing.  And sometimes, we hope that a terminally ill loved one can just make it through one more Christmas.  We hope for things that are far beyond our ability to control, yet we should never give up our hope.  Hope is what kept the dream of freedom alive in the Israelites who were being held in slavery.  Hope is what kept the drive of John the Baptist going to prepare the way in the wilderness.  And hope in the resurrection is what made it possible for Jesus to endure the crucifixion.

None of these outcomes could have been predicted and definitely not expected, and yet, they happened.  For me, expectation is akin to logic which comes from me living in my head.  Hope is the child of faith, which calls me to live from my heart.  When I live from my heart, then the things I thought impossible become possible.  And hard-to-believe stories of a God who loves me beyond anything I can even comprehend become the foundation for peace and joy in my life.  I hope you have a blessed Advent and a wonderful Christmas.

~Mark Mahoney, Pastoral Associate