HOPE IN UNCERTAINTY | KAIROS GLOBAL | APRIL 2024

Author: Ramzi Hitti

Intro: Taking his country and countrymen as an example, Lebanese Bro Ramzi Hitti writes about what it means to have hope in uncertain times. 

Lebanon as a Case Study

World 2024: diseases, epidemics, wars, natural disasters, thefts, corruption, fraud… where is hope? The New Testament says: For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect (Matthew 24:24).

Unfortunately… most of those who control the fate of Lebanese people today: politicians, security personnel, doctors, lawyers… are false prophets! Unfortunately, our people believe them and follow them. They give us temporary happiness, temporary joy, temporary hope! However, the Lebanese people are anaesthetic by following false hope and false dreams. The only true hope, especially in this time of uncertainty, remains in the Church and the clergy’s wisdom.  

But, God is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1). When suffering becomes severe, we find in God our refuge, our helper. Moments of instability, of uncertainty have accompanied Lebanon, and the Middle East since the dawn of history. God was always intervening, and we believe in that, it is our faith. I can do all this through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4: 13), this was and will remain the cry, or the prayer of the true Lebanese Christian believer, when he loses hope, especially in a time of uncertainty. But, what are the reasons that created this situation in Lebanon? 

Hope in Uncertainty: Lebanon as a Case Study

The Lebanese people have long been accustomed to a state of uncertainty, which continues even to this day, and it seems like it will go on. This situation has created a kind of constant fear, mistrust, and constant anxiety among the Lebanese. This is due to the war. But, what causes it?

Geographically, Lebanon is located in the Middle East. It is the region that witnessed the birth of the three monotheistic Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This was supposed to bring peace to all the peoples of this region.  But on the contrary, it seems to have been a cause of misery and a direct cause of wars, along with other economic and racial causes. 

This conflict in the Middle East, with Lebanon an essential part of it, cannot be linked to a specific beginning or end date. That war put the citizens of our country in a state of permanent instability, which led to uncertainty: poverty, continuous migration, and a major shortage of basic necessities (medicine, food, clothing, gas, oil…). This situation produces people who always live in fear of the present and future and do not want to remember their past. Children and youth have had their dreams stolen. Those who were able to go abroad, emigrated. The state of uncertainty has emptied Lebanon of its youth, intellectuals, and young workforce. Of those who remain, most of us suffer from health, social, and psychological problems… Dreams have been shattered. However, the Christian has a great source of hope. What is it?

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him (Romans 4:18). This is the hope of Lebanon’s Christians from time immemorial until today. Our hope is similar to the hope of our father Abraham. It is hope wrapped in faith! What are the elements of this hope?

First, the saints. Lebanon’s saints are an essential factor in preserving our hope. Saint Charbel, Saint Rafqa and others are an important example for us, that we can imitate their lives and holiness. Second, sacred mountains and valleys. Those majestic mountains that embraced, and still are, many monasteries where monks and nuns live, practise the virtues and live out their faith in holiness. Plus, the valleys of Lebanon that were sanctified by the pure blood of the Christian martyrs. These are all signs calling for living hope with all faith. Finally, we can talk about the history of Lebanon, especially its religious and ecclesiastical history; where the patriarchs and bishops withstood the aggressors, invaders, and occupiers, preserving Lebanon’s independence until today, thus becoming living signs of hope in our lives. How does a Christian in Lebanon live his hope?

Padre Pio says: ‘I always feel more and more a great need to surrender myself with greater confidence to divine mercy and to place in God alone my only hope.’ This is our situation today in Lebanon. We live our hope in our churches, and parishes. Surrendering to divine mercy. We are confident that God will not abandon us. Our hope is strengthened more through prayer and living a deep, stable, and solid spiritual life. Despite the difficult living conditions, we still continue the journey of witness and evangelisation and in turn be signs of hope for others. 

Future Lebanon: Dream or Reality? 

Lazarus, come out! (John 11: 43). What Jesus said to his friend Lazarus, he says today to every Lebanese. Lebanon must emerge from the state of uncertainty and overcome it. Our faith is the faith of the gospel – after death there is always resurrection. This resurrection carries with it all the dreams and wishes of the Lebanese people, making them a reality. 

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21:1). Biblically, the new earth and new heaven mean the state of glory that man will experience in eternal life. However, for us Lebanese, we hope to see the Lebanon of the future, a new sky and a new land, far from situations of anxiety and uncertainty. But your sadness turns into joy (John 16: 20). It is true, Lebanon today is experiencing sadness, pain and bitterness, as a result of the economic, security and political situation controlling the region. This current reality makes the future dark and gloomy. However, when we put our trust in God, and persevere in prayer and live a spiritual life with faith, we can, with God’s help, transform our pain into true, lasting joy. Our dreams become a beautiful reality. 

Stand firm, and you will win life (Luke 21:19). We have to live patiently on a daily basis, waiting for our dreams to come true with all hope. The priests and monks of Lebanon are, for us today, the ‘prophets of the New Testament.’ They convey to us the will of God and what he wants from Lebanon, and we will not listen to false prophets and those who claim to know things of the unseen. We place our hope at the heart of the Church.

As a conclusion, we reply with Jesus: No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.(Luke 9:62). We will continue the battle of our dreams and hope in Lebanon. We will continue the journey of our belief that complete and just peace will one day come. Every day we learn that there is no peace and no hope except with Jesus, and by adhering to the teachings of the Catholic Church, and living our faith with full energy. 

Brother Ramzi Hitti is a life-committed brother of the Lebanese Maronite Missionaries Association. He works in the field of religious media and lives in the Monastery of St John the Beloved in Jounieh, Lebanon.