Liberty University – Institute for Military Resilience
Resilience Blog Archive – April 2013
The HOPE Diamond
(Posted: May 7, 2013)
I appreciate the many of you who connected for the last Liberty Institute for Military Resilience
(IMR) on April 18 entitled “Resilient Military Marriage and Family.” If you were unable to attend,
you can go to the Webinar section at the bottom of www.LUOnline.com/IMR to see the archived
IMR webinars, including this last one.
Our last slide in the April seminar was entitled “The Hope Diamond.” Given that hope is so central to
all human beings, particularly those who navigate the life and death matters related to military
service; I thought I would expand these “Hope Diamond” thoughts for your consideration and
response.
So let’s talk for a few moments about diamonds, often called a “girl’s best friend.” In fact, they could
also be considered a “guy’s best friend.” In my own experience training Army Rangers, I would often
refer to them in their early days of training as “Diamonds in the Rough.” After they were put under
heat and pressure in military training, they would start to shine like diamonds; in this case industrial
diamonds that are strong enough to cut steel, grind through granite, etc. Yes, diamonds are valuable
in a number of ways.
Have you seen the actual “Hope Diamond” in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC? This is
the most famous and valuable diamond in the world worth $250 million dollars, 45.52 carats, 9.1
ounces. Further study into the history of the Hope Diamond reveals some other interesting facts: the
diamond is not named after the quality of hope, rather after an 18th Century British gentleman
named Hope. As well, there was a fair amount of intrigue and greed surrounding people trying to
obtain Mr. Hope’s valuable diamond for their own personal use. In short, this diamond brought out
the worst in people.
Conversely, there is another “Hope Diamond” that brings out the best in people. In 3:16: The
Numbers of Hope, Max Lucado arrays John 3:16 in the shape of a diamond. He further describes
this “twenty-six word parade of hope… beginning with God, ending with Life… He loves and He
gave… We believe and We live.”
This is true hope. The hope that does not depend on outward circumstances, but rather the inner
condition of the heart and the reality of the “hope and future” that God promises to those who follow
Jesus. This is the hope diamond that we need! This is the precious jewel that we already have in
Jesus.
Romans 5:1-5 summarizes it well:
“Therefore, having been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in
which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of god. And not only this, but we also
exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and
perseverance, proven character, and proven character, hope; and hope does not
disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy
Spirit who was given to us.”
The fact is that hope is essential, as essential as air itself. You may have heard that one can live
without food for months, without water for days, and without air…and HOPE… for seconds. Hope is
particularly essential to military men, women, and families who navigate the challenges of
deployment, separations, single parenting, mental health challenges including depression and
potential suicide, and ultimately life and death.
As we consider the many specific topics of relevance to the military society as members and
caregivers (Resilient Military Marriage and Family, Military Transitions, Being a Resilient Warrior,
and other well defined topics), it is equally important to “gain altitude” periodically, reflecting on
critical spiritual realities such as HOPE, which does not disappoint!
Respectfully in Christ,
Bob Dees