by Lisa Steele,  FLM Executive Director

En Español

The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn… 

These words are from my favorite Christmas song, “O Holy Night”. I especially love the phrase, “the thrill of hope.” 

What would we do without hope?

The word hope is defined as “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” In Spanish, hope is “esperanza”, which means “a feeling of expectation, anticipation, of promise.” In both of these definitions we see that hope is much bigger than four letters. It brings an expectation—a desire, of things to come.

We usually talk about hope when we have a need, like better health, a better job, safety for loved ones, faithful children. So where is the “thrill” of hope in all of these things?

The thrill of hope is that feeling—that desire, promise, anticipation—that we will receive what we need. And when we do our burdens are lifted. We feel the thrill. And in this weary world, don’t we all need a thrill of hope?

So many children and families in Honduras are yearning for a new and glorious morn. They may not have their expectations or desires met here on this earth, but we know that we will all receive them when we receive the hope of a life with Jesus forever. Until that time, God calls us to care for one another as we remember that hope.

Eternal hope found only in Jesus Christ is different from the hope we often speak for earthly things. While there is nothing wrong in hoping for a job, a house, or better health, those things often have an element of doubt when spoken. But when we speak of eternal hope we add a deeper layer to the meaning of hope—anticipation and expectation.

Sometimes when translating English and Spanish, there are words that we say in English that have a slightly different meaning in Spanish. The verb “to hope” is one of them. In English “to hope” means: to desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment; to expect with confidence. In Spanish, esperar (to hope) means:  to wait, to wait for; to expect; to hope. Combined then, hope can mean “to wait for something with expectation and confidence”.

Maybe that is why I love “O Holy Night” so much. There is a thrill to the hope we know has already come and will come again. And while on this earth, we can give hope each and every glorious morn to those who need it most.

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born