The Power of Hope

“...We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame…” Romans 5:3-5 (NIV)

Until I met Rodney, hope—at least to me—was a wishy-washy concept. Just a word people used to express a desire. “I hope it doesn’t rain today.” Or, “I hope Dan doesn’t forget to stop at the store for milk.” I didn’t see hope as having any real power.

I met Rodney through a high school essay contest where 11th and 12th graders were asked to write about the character trait that had most shaped them. The prizes were college scholarships to the schools of their choice. I had been asked to serve as one of the judges.

The English teachers pre-selected about fifty essays. Each judge received a packet and was asked to rank the top five.

The students wrote beautifully—about courage, generosity, service, discipline, responsibility, leadership, and compassion—and how those traits had directed choices and decisions in their lives. Then, I came to Rodney’s essay.

“Hope,” Rodney wrote, “Saved my life.”

Rodney was the only child of the county’s most notorious drug kingpins. Drug deals took place in his living room. At age eight, he witnessed his uncle’s murder in his own home. His father fled the state; his mother went to prison. Rodney was sent to live with relatives who were hardly better than his parents.

His one positive influence was a friend who invited him to church. One Sunday, the minister quoted Isaiah 42:3: “A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out. In faithfulness He will bring forth justice.”Afterward, the pastor told Rodney that God had a plan for his life. Something awakened in him. That verse sparked a vision for a better future. Rodney called it hope—a real expectation and desire for a different outcome. Although he was bruised and smoldering, he was alive. He had been dealt a bad hand, but God would make it right.

Despite his bleak home life, Rodney kept that spark alive. He left home but stayed in school. His English teacher noticed his talent for writing and began to mentor and encourage him. Rodney would visit this teacher after class—while secretly sleeping on park benches at night and fending for himself. When the teacher discovered Rodney’s situation, he and his wife invited him to live with them.

With a mentor and a safe place to stay, Rodney began to thrive. He was introduced to Christ. He joined the football team. His grades improved. As a junior, he started thinking seriously about college. What kept him going—despite the absence of any parental support—was hope.

All the judges unanimously chose Rodney’s essay as their top pick. He was awarded a $1,500 scholarship—and later received a football scholarship that covered the rest of his college expenses. It was an honor to shake his hand at the awards ceremony.

Through Rodney’s story, God showed me the true power of hope. It holds us steady through trials. It keeps us from giving up. It fuels our faith and lifts us out of the pit. When everything else fails, hope remains.

Our teachers come in many forms. For me, one of the most memorable was a 17-year-old high school football player named Rodney.

Dear Heavenly Father, help me to always hope in your promises when life gets hard and I don’t see the way out. May hope sustain me as I wait for your deliverance. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.