“E go better” has become a popular slogan in Nigeria at the end of every discussion on the situation of the nation. After highlighting the numerous problems and even proffering solutions, it is not uncommon to hear people say, “E go better.” This statement is not to be seen as a mere cliché. Coming from Nigerians, it must be seen as a product of their religious sensibility, where problems do not have the final say because it is believed that “when there is life, there is hope.” That is, as long as one is alive, one can hope for a better future, a reversal of fortune from dire to good and from good to better. This, in a sense, is a human sentiment that must be nurtured for a positive outlook on life. No wonder Soren Kierkegaard said that “ Hope is a passion for the possible.”

It is suicidal to live without hope; every moment becomes a torture and drudgery. It is hope that gives strength to our gait and strength to our soul. Without hope, there is no need to wake up each day and face the day’s challenge. But with hope, we are confident that such efforts as we muster are not in vain, and so we expend ourselves in the sure hope that the desirable future is within reach. Hope is born of faith and is lived by the people of faith who believe that in spite of themselves, God is able to bring about a good outcome. Hence, we must live by faith to face the challenges of our daily life. As people of faith, we are conversant with the reality of life, while challenges should be seen as hurdles to be crossed rather than stumbling blocks. Consequently, we go to the one with the power to strengthen us so that we can fly on the wings of God across the treacherous roads of life. This attitude is not easy to come by and is rooted only in one’s deep relationship with the divine. 

In this year of hope, the people of the world need to rediscover the virtue of hope. The world indeed is a beautiful place, and to eat the best honey, one must not be afraid to face the sting of bees. Just as gold is refined by fire, Christians are aware that nurturing hope makes us depend on God not just when all else fails but always because we know we are insufficient, but our sufficiency comes from God. Hope is a positive attitude to life without which life becomes difficult. Every human being needs hope, from the least to the greatest, from the poorest to the richest, and both male and female. A human being without hope has stopped living and is only passing time before the pains of life bring about what is left of that miserable existence. Hope is that which makes the present moment easy to bear. And Helen Keller said that “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”

With all that is going on in the world, we need to keep hope alive. For Nigerians,  there is even a need for more hope. As Martin Luther King Jr once said, “We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope.” While hope is one of the theological virtues, along with faith and love, it is quite interesting that Elie Wiesel should say that “Hope is like peace. It is not a gift from God. It is a gift only we can give one another.” When we cannot do anything, let us always remember that there is still hope to be explored. As Tom Bodett asserts, "They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.”

“In all things, it is better to hope than to despair. And hope always has the final say: “In the end, all is well; if it is not well, it is not the end. Hope is not wishing the problem and challenges away. Hope is knowing that in spite of the challenges, you are still going to make it." The Bible attests to this when the Prophet Isaiah said, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” (Is 40:31) In the final analysis, even for Fyodor Dostoevsky “To live without hope is to cease to live.” Let us, therefore, travel the world over and plant the seed of hope. Let us water it and help it to grow. The world needs it, and our future depends on the view we give our children today that tomorrow is pregnant with better options and possibilities. Without hope, none of us will get to the future. That should not be an option for any of us!