Hope in the Midst of Uncertainty

No matter your political persuasion or religious identity, the times in which we are living can make hope feel like no more than a breeze that has swept across our faces and long since moved on. Some of us are without work and wondering if we will be able to pay the bills. Some of us are fighting battles with our health. Others are battling emotional and mental trauma from the past and present. Some are grieving for loved ones suffering and ones already gone to heaven. The fact is, we are all going through something. Even in the days of Jesus, his disciples still had their worries. They still had lapses in faith. They were going through something, just like us.

But what is that "something"? It’s different for each of us. But we are all struggling together. We are in the same tunnel to the same destination, each of us in different cars with our own baggage in the backseat. And it’s important to remember that in that tunnel are all types of people who are not Christians. But we are, nonetheless, on this journey together. Christ calls us to share our hope with all people, no matter who they are. When we share the hope of Jesus, people who do not believe may be led to believe.

The Bible says in Hebrews 6:19 that hope is "an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." But the only way we can let that hope anchor us is to share it with others. What good is joy if there's no one to share it with? For hope is just joy delayed.

The apostle Paul endured hardship, persecution, and imprisonment, yet he remained hopeful. He says in Romans 5:2 that "We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." Paul's hope wasn't based on his circumstances, but on the assurance of God's unwavering love. The hope of God is eternal. It can never be shaken. That's why we should never cease to share that hope in any way we can.

Importantly, we must cultivate hope. And since our source of hope is the Lord Jesus, we must cultivate our relationship with him. We must read his word daily. We must speak to him daily. We must ask humbly for him to share his hope with us. And, at the risk of being redundant, we must share our hope with others in order to cultivate it within us. Many of us, myself included at times, are guilty of neglecting parts of this equation, especially the last one. But without the last one, hope is useless. Share, share, share. Just as Christ did and does with us every day.