I remember the Corona era. Days when not only illness, but loneliness and hopelessness had crept into homes too. One night, after several weeks of quarantine, I was sitting by the window. Rain was falling and I wasn’t thinking about tomorrow, because tomorrow no longer meant anything to me. That night, without knowing why, I placed my hand on my heart and said, “God, I don’t know what will happen, but I have faith in you.” In that moment, a spark lit up inside me. I felt I could want, I could plan, I could find a way. That night I understood that faith and hope are not separate things. Faith lights the lamp, and hope shows the way. This article is the result of that experience and years of reflection on these two precious psychological assets.
Faith; A Framework for Making Life Meaningful
Faith is not just a simple belief. It is a stabilised semantic framework that helps us bring order to the chaos of life [2]. When I believe that the world is not meaningless, I find peace even in difficulties. Faith can be in God, in ourselves, or in others [1]. But the most fundamental kind is faith in the source of existence. This faith becomes the foundation upon which hope grows. My experience has shown that on days when I have prayed with presence of heart, even if my problem was not solved, I felt lighter. Faith is like the root of a tree; the deeper it is, the less a storm shakes us.
Hope; An Active Process, Not a Fleeting Feeling
Many people think hope is just simple optimism. But recent research shows that hope is an active cognitive process: a combination of clear goals and the belief in one’s ability to create paths to achieve those goals [3]. The difference between a hopeful person and someone who is merely optimistic is that the former, when one path closes, finds another. I myself, many times in failed projects, with that same hopeful mindset, was able to design a new path. Hope means “I can”, not “hopefully it will happen”. This difference is a world apart between active hope and passive optimism.
The Mutual Relationship Between Faith and Hope; Two Wings for Flight
Faith and hope are not separate. Faith provides the ground in which hope can grow. When I know that the world is wise and purposeful, I dare to be hopeful even in the bitterest circumstances. On the other hand, whenever I achieve a result through hopeful effort, my belief in the order of existence deepens [4]. I have seen this positive cycle in my own life: when I prayed and then went to work with hope, small successes strengthened my faith. Truly, faith and hope are two wings that make flight possible.
How Can We Strengthen Faith and Hope?
I have tried several simple but effective strategies. First, prayer and supplication, even five minutes a day [5]. Second, positive thinking and changing our perspective on events. Third, realistic goal-setting [6]. Fourth, being in the company of faithful and hopeful people [7]. Last week, when I was exhausted, I went to a home prayer gathering. No miracle occurred, but that shared empathy and collective belief gave me such energy that I could think of tomorrow again. Faith and hope can be cultivated, like a muscle that grows stronger with exercise.
Conclusion; A Lamp in the Darkest Moments
Faith and hope do not just provide temporary calm. They give direction to life and become our guiding light in the harshest crises. If today you feel you have fallen apart, know that faith can be rebuilt and hope can be watered again. Start with one small step: tonight, place your hand on your heart and speak to the source of existence. You will see that you can rise again.
References
1. Hosseini, S. (2018/1397 HS). The Psychology of Faith. Qom: Nashr-e Ma’aref.
2. Parsania, H. (2016/1395 HS). Faith and Semantic Frameworks. Tehran: Research Institute of Islamic Culture and Thought.
3. Snyder, C.R. (2020/1399 HS). The Theory of Hope. Translated by M. Rezaei. Tehran: Rushd.
4. Tabatabaei, M.H. (2006/1385 HS). Tafsir al-Mizan: Vol. 2. Qom: Islamic Publications Office.
5. Motahhari, M. (2015/1394 HS). Man and Faith. Tehran: Sadra.
6. Naderi, F. (2021/1400 HS). Positive Goal Setting. Isfahan: Nashr-e Kamal.
7. Fromm, E. (2017/1396 HS). To Have or To Be? Translated by M. Salari. Tehran: Negah.
