Hope for the Future

"There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." (Proverbs)The page is blank at the start of a new year. That's great for people who get excited about a fresh start and the chance to begin filling the page with their dreams. But it can be overwhelming for others who fear the unknown and are anxious about filling the page with mistakes they find difficult to erase.

So we have to choose. Be overcome by fear or overcome fear through hope.

I choose to believe in a future of hope. Maybe that's because I've experienced how holding onto hope helps overcome fear. I've learned to choose to be an optimist even when it might not be realistic for the situation or when the critics and pessimists try to persuade me to be otherwise.

That attitude has lifted me above a lot of life's stormy waters and helped me maintain an even keel and live in an atmosphere of calm. My reputation is one of great success. But I've had my share of setbacks and facing an uncertain future.

I co-founded a business that people said would never work, for which I was laughed at and criticized by the news media. I've been in the locker room sharing the disappointment of a losing season with members of my Orlando Magic basketball team. I've faced the uncertainty and fear of life-threatening illnesses. Through it all, I've learned to be at peace because of God's grace.

So, as we begin another year, let me share a few lessons I've learned about looking forward.
-- Hope - View problems as challenges and never lose hope, understanding that the future is in God's hands.
-- Confidence - Aim high, and eventually you'll likely reach higher goals. Say, "I think I can," and you probably will.
-- Optimism - I find that the good in life far outweighs the bad. When we expect good things to happen, we see good.
-- Faith - Put your faith in the salvation of Jesus Christ, and you can stop worrying about the future. Several years ago, when I was waiting to receive a heart transplant needed to save my life, I told family and friends that regardless of the outcome, I was at peace. If I lived, I knew God still had a purpose for my life on earth. If I didn't receive the transplant, I had my faith that God had a home for me with Him.

Let's rejoice at the start of another new year. Let's look forward to the future with hope, knowing that God has provided for us in the past and that He will continue to do so in the future. Have a happy, hopeful New Year!

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Rich DeVos is vice-chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.