Today we get to hear from author and speaker, Karen Foster, as she shares some timely perspective on what living hope looks like amidst the pain with which our world is dealing this week.
“I’m not a very religious person,” said a young man who was interviewed on the street after the horrific shooting in Orlando, Florida. “But whatever religion you are, no matter what you believe—send it whatever—our way.”
He sighed as he tried to articulate his thoughts. “We all need it. We all need something. We all need that…hope. So just keep praying for us.”
What is Hope?
In the world’s vernacular, hope is “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.”
- I hope our baseball team wins.
- I hope it rains.
- I hope you feel better soon.
However, it wasn’t hopeful, wishful thinking that triggered my brain when the man said, “Send it whatever our way.”
I yearned to tell him, “whatever it is” has a name and it’s not a “thing.”
It is Someone who loves you so much that He died in your place so you could experience a Living Hope that…
- Exceeds expectations.
- Satisfies desires.
- Doesn’t disappoint.
I wanted to tell him about “Christ Jesus our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1).
And that “our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers” (1 Timothy 4:10).
Only, I wonder if the irreligious man would have listened to me because…the world doesn’t want us to tell them about the hope within us.
They want us to show them.
The employees of several Chick-fil-a restaurants in Orlando could have told the wounded victims and the people who mourned, “We’re praying for you.”
Instead, they showed compassion.
On a Sunday — when Chick-fil-a is normally closed — employees cooked and served free chicken sandwiches and sweet tea to hundreds of people who lined up to donate blood for the wounded.
The folks who gave their blood also illustrated a compassionate heart. And reminds me…
God demonstrated His love towards us when He sent His only, begotten Son to shed His blood for me.
Before His crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples:
“the world must be shown that I love the Father and do exactly as He commands.” (John 14:31 NEB)
People Are Watching
When they look at Christians, do they see a talking head? Or a disciple of Christ who loves God and does what He commands:
- Prays for our enemy.
- Loves our neighbor.
- Serves one another as unto Christ.
Sometimes, I’m tempted to feel hopeless when I’m going through a crisis. But Romans 15:13 says:
“May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in your faith, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, your whole life and outlook may be radiant with hope.”
Like the distressed man said, “We all need hope.”
So let’s pray and show the world the radiant hope within us even in this difficult time.
Featured image courtesy of Cathal Mac an Bheatha.
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Karen’s passion is God’s Word. Her family is her joy. She has written devotionals and personal narrative stories for many Christian publications such as The Upper Room, and Bible Advocate’s ezine: Now What? She’s also a speaker for women’s events. You can read her blog at KarenFosterMinistry.com. Karen is married and has three grown children.
Comments 2
Yes, in times like this we need to remember our hope–God sees, He is still in control even when we can’t see it, and will bring good out of it to His glory. Meanwhile, you reminded us of what we can do–show God’s love and hope to those around us. A great perspective.
And wow, I loved how you compared blood donors to Jesus’s blood sacrifice for us. Thanks for sharing!
Wise words, Karen.