Hope is a funny thing. It seems when we need it the most it is difficult to find. Looking for a job, trying to pay the bills, child with an illness or perhaps the struggle to keep at a job that is grueling and dehumanizing. There are many things that happen to us in this journey called life and without hope we can feel empty and listless.
In Proverbs there is a verse that says "Hope deferred makes the heart sick." This basically means when hope is not given to us we begin to feel sick at heart and our minds and bodies follow quickly. So where do we find hope in difficult times?
Hope is in Jesus Christ. Jesus' disciples (you and I) are called to share this hope with others. Some people call this witnessing, but I tend to think of it more as love and encouragement. Sometimes hope is found in an answer to prayer and other times it is an unexpected gift of encouragement. Such gifts as a meal, a card in the mail, some money given to help pay for an upcoming mission trip, all of these "deposits" of hope fill us up. Each of us have the opportunity to share with others in small ways that not only answer prayers but also extends hope.
This doesn't mean that sometime you won't feel a situation is impossible. You may be asked for help and you will feel inadequate to meet that need. But you must remember that WITH God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). Therefore we are able to pray and bring God in the moment. Ask Jesus what do do. It is all right to say: "I have no idea what to do but we can pray and ask Christ for guidance."
Recently I read an interesting story about 3 chihuahuas that stood up to a mountain lion in California. Their little 3 year old owner was going outside and the 3 chihuahuas saw the mountain lion in the yard. They stood up to the mountain lion even though they only weighed 3 pounds each. The mountain lion could have easily killed them. Yet they stood up to the mountain lion and barked until their little owner was safe. We too like the chihuahuas are called to stand up to the mountain lions in our community. To keep speaking up, praying, and working until hope returns.
Got hope in Jesus Christ? Then go on out there and share it my chihuahua friends!
Peace!
Pastor Georgia
In Proverbs there is a verse that says "Hope deferred makes the heart sick." This basically means when hope is not given to us we begin to feel sick at heart and our minds and bodies follow quickly. So where do we find hope in difficult times?
Hope is in Jesus Christ. Jesus' disciples (you and I) are called to share this hope with others. Some people call this witnessing, but I tend to think of it more as love and encouragement. Sometimes hope is found in an answer to prayer and other times it is an unexpected gift of encouragement. Such gifts as a meal, a card in the mail, some money given to help pay for an upcoming mission trip, all of these "deposits" of hope fill us up. Each of us have the opportunity to share with others in small ways that not only answer prayers but also extends hope.
This doesn't mean that sometime you won't feel a situation is impossible. You may be asked for help and you will feel inadequate to meet that need. But you must remember that WITH God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). Therefore we are able to pray and bring God in the moment. Ask Jesus what do do. It is all right to say: "I have no idea what to do but we can pray and ask Christ for guidance."
Recently I read an interesting story about 3 chihuahuas that stood up to a mountain lion in California. Their little 3 year old owner was going outside and the 3 chihuahuas saw the mountain lion in the yard. They stood up to the mountain lion even though they only weighed 3 pounds each. The mountain lion could have easily killed them. Yet they stood up to the mountain lion and barked until their little owner was safe. We too like the chihuahuas are called to stand up to the mountain lions in our community. To keep speaking up, praying, and working until hope returns.
Got hope in Jesus Christ? Then go on out there and share it my chihuahua friends!
Peace!
Pastor Georgia
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