Ambition and Hope.

Ambition: a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work.

Hope: a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

I have never really thought of these two concepts as similar, but I have recently been thinking about how they have the same desired result.  The difference could be defined as "control."  When we have ambition in general or an ambition for a certain situation, we are the ones taking charge with the determination to complete the task.  When we have hope, we are relying on outside entities to bring about the resolution we want.  Most of the time, but not always, hope involves a situation that is outside our control about which we have to exercise faith.

I think that everyone has a certain measure of ambition...some people have more than others, and some people act on it more than others...some people have had great success in being ambitious, and some people are continually discouraged when their attempts at ambition do not pan out...some people put great emphasis on ambition, and some people undervalue it.  Ambition is often tied to courage, determination, vision, and commitment.  Ambition can be applied in any aspect of life: relational, professional, personal, spiritual, etc.  It is not likely that we can achieve our goals for ourselves without exhibiting at least some level of ambition.  There is no way to know what kind of world we would live in if no one had ever been ambitious, but I do not think it would be a world I would want to live in.  Ambition is inspirational. Ambition is generally good, but can also be used for selfish or malicious purposes.  We are exercising control when we exercise ambition, which means that we accept the responsibility for the outcome.

I also think that everyone has a certain measure of hope, though many people have false hope because they do not have their trust in the Lord who is the author of hope...some people have so much hope for the end result of a situation that they apply their ambition fulfilling this desire...some people give up hope on a circumstance because they feel like they have been waiting for far longer than it should take to have some resolution.  Whether we hope in ourselves, in another person, in the world, or in the Lord for a situation to turn out the right way, the root of all hope is faith in something.  I believe that the only object of our faith this is worth putting our hope in is the Lord.  Hope is not contingent on the way things appear.  It is not limited by what seems possible. We are surrendering control to the Lord when we exercise hope, which means that we submit to His sovereignty in the outcome. 

The point is: ambition and hope are both inherently good and necessary.  That being said, I have seen more incredible things spring from situations in which I put my hope in the Lord to deliver the result in His sovereignty than could ever have occurred out of my own ambition.  He is worth our devotion and faith.  He is worth the feeling of uncertainty.  He is worth our hope.

"Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.  Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous." -- Romans 4:18-22.