HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS

I Was Just Thinking About - - -Hope for the Hopeless.

is Hope possible for everyone? Does it occur easily? Is it a process that includes pain and disappointment?

Our Daily Bread for July 14, 2016 contains the following thoughts:

“Though we live in a fallen world where we experience pain and disappointment, the Lord can move us from despair to rejoicing, as we see in Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming of Jesus (Isaiah 61:1–3). The Lord gives us hope when we feel hopeless; He helps us to forgive when we think we can’t; He teaches us that our identity is in Him and not in what we do. He gives us courage to face an unknown future. When we wear the rags of “ashes,” He gently gives us a coat of praise.

"God can bring times of growth out of our times of heartache. When we face loss, we shouldn’t run from the sadness, but neither do we want to become bitter or hardened. When we think about God’s faithfulness over the years, we know that He’s willing and able to turn our grief to dancing once again—to give us sufficient grace in this life and full joy in heaven.”

Some Hymns express the source and possibility of Hope for the Hopeless - - - Such as:

My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less than Jesus blood and righteousness

My Hope Is In The Lord Who Gave Himself For Me

There is a place of refuge for the hopeless as stated in Romans 4:16-22. It uses Abraham as an example of Hope for the Hopeless…

“It depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, I have made you the father of many nations - in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.  In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told: So shall your offspring be. He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.  No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was counted to him as righteousness.”

There is no need or requirement for any of us to know HOW God will do what He has promised to do. Our need and requirement is  to believe that HE IS ABLE to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

We also have an obligation regarding those who are without hope. Some people struggle with pain, rejection, experiences that have impacted their lives, those who see no light at the end of their tunnel of despair and hopelessness. We can come alongside and encourage. We can walk with them to help them to focus upon God who is the source and foundation for one’s hope.

Prayerfully – Consider these things with me.