1 Corinthians 13:7 says that love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Wow. Love sounds great, doesn’t it? And we need those qualities more than ever. Right now we are divided as a country and a population. People have gotten hurt, they have lied or have been lied to, there is desperation as people call out for change or mercy, and it seems as though darkness wins from all angles. So how do we cope and move forward with our lives without feeling dragged down by the weight of society, the past, and harmful actions?

 

The Bible holds the answer. God says in Jeremiah 29:11 that He wants to give us “hope and a future.” He promises the feeling of hope, but he already delivered on the eternal hope: Jesus. The baby born from the Virgin Mary became the light in a world overwhelmed with darkness. Though, as He hung on a cross and cried out “It is Finished,” it seemed that the light was gone. But three days later, He rose again, showing us that hope in life, in salvation, is not wasted. When it reads that “love always hopes,” that applies directly to our relationship with Jesus. When we say that we love Jesus, it means that we have hope in him and that we trust him. And when we say that we love a family member or a friend, it means that we have hope in them as a person. If we have hope, love and kindness will follow suit. 

 

The next time you feel like the world is ending or you are faced with the difficulty of injustice in this life, have hope in the one who is the ultimate hope of the world. Act with the spirit of hope and not fear, and love one another as God calls us to. 

 

God’s Always Got You! Never forget that you can be a vessel for Christ of love and light, even when all you can muster is a glimmer of hope.