Amidst all the turmoil of this week, I am comforted in knowing that I have hope.
I’m also burdened to know that there are so many out there in our world today that do not have that same hope.
Yesterday, while strolling through Instagram stories, I saw the image of a blogger that I follow. As far as I know she is not a follower of Christ. In the image she was running her hands through her hair in frustration and the text conveyed the sentiment that she was trying to find hope.
I so wanted to reach out to her and let her know that hope can be found.
Hope is available today.
Hope was available yesterday.
Hope was available on Election Day.
But, we have to know that the hope that she was looking for and the hope that we are all ultimately looking for can only be found in Christ.
I watch the protesters on television that are lashing out in anger around our country and in part I can understand what they may be feeling. They are lost. They are scared. And they are feeling a sense of hopelessness.
If they are without Christ, it makes perfect sense that they would be lost.
Because they are.
So many are just searching for hope in our seemingly broken world. No…not our seemingly broken world…in our BROKEN world.
They have sought that hope in politicians, in policies, in relationships, in media, in entertainment and in so many things that will only continue to leave them feeling empty.
Hope will never be found in politics.
Hope will never be found in policies.
Hope will never be found in the law of this great land.
Hope will never be found in the voting booth.
Hope will never be found in a glass of wine.
Hope will never be found in relationships with people.
Hope will never be found in the media.
Hope will never be found in entertainment.
Hope will never be found in religion.
Hope will only and can only be found in Jesus Christ. He is the only person we can put our faith in. He is the only one we can cling to when we are lost.
As Christians we have a responsibility to not just be different, but to be better in this season of uncertainty for so many.
We cannot expect the lost to act any other way than lost.
As Christians we have a responsibility to rise above feeling persecuted ourselves.
We have to rise above arguing with our family, friends and neighbors who disagree with us.
We have to desire more than fairness or equality.
We have a responsibility to point the lost world around us to Christ.
How can we do this?
First, we must know that we have the one thing they need. We have hope!
Then we need to live like we have it.
We need to repent of our own sin of searching for hope outside of Christ. The church as a whole has failed in truly trusting in Christ as it has tried to put it’s own hope in the political process. Shame on us for this! Politics and politicians will not save us. They are not and will never be our salvation. ONLY Christ is!
This is a grievous sin against our God.
We need to be the first ones to repent.
And then we must live in obedience by following Christ’s command to love God and love our fellow man.
Truly love.
Not just in word, but also in deed.
We have been born again to a living hope…let’s live like it!
Deana says
Thank you for writing such a wonderful reminder of the grace of God and each believer ‘s responsibility.
Because He first loved us,
Deana
Nancy M Olson says
Thank you for this positive, uplifting article at a time when so many are feeling loss and despair. I too pray that they will find the hope to carry them through! ?????
Maudine McGee says
Wonderful! Oh, the Grace and talent that God has given to you! And, you use it so well to inspire others! I enjoy your dwellings,. Keep up the good work! Your four children have a Great role model! Thank you for sharing!
Gillian says
Special words, Monica. X
Jennifer Scruggs says
Thank you for sharing! Love your guts. It is hard to share this hope with those who are shutting you out. The lady I carpool with would not even roll down her window this week or wave back at me. She is so hurt. She is a Christian, but not acting from a place of hope and peace. I want so badly to encourage her, but she is so upset with me for our different political views, she has shut me out. I am praying for her, and continuing to smile an wave, and love on her kiddo (She drives one of mine to the middle school, and I take one of hers to the elementary school with me). I hope that soon, I will be able to invite her out to coffee and we will be able to open up and begin to bridge the divide. I would appreciate your prayers for my friend, and for God to provide an opportunity for us to talk.
Monica Andrews says
That is such a hard situation, Jennifer. I will be praying for your friend. Maybe she just needs time. But more than that, as a Christian, she needs the Holy Spirit to work within her heart. I’ll be praying for an opportunity for you to be able to share with her. We can’t build bridges if we’re not talking. I know you’re loving on her and her kiddo as best you can. I’ll pray for patience as you wait for her to open her heart.
Huge hugs and many prayers, friend!