Hanging Onto Hope

Sometimes when I write, I write what I think, not what I feel. This is that week. John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” We live in fearful times. Hate is growing. It is coming out of the closet and bringing chaos to our streets. Constitutional guarantees are no longer enforced. People are being taken from their places of worship, jobs, schools. Nowhere is safe. Businesses are struggling as they don’t have workers. Gas and food prices are breaking people’s budgets. Language that a year ago would have been unheard of is becoming commonplace. The mentally ill and transgender persons are talked about as if executing them is a viable solution to other’s discomfort. Anyone different is vilified even though we talked about a melting pot before.

Fear and hate have become so pervasive in our society, it’s hard to feel secure. We went on a cruise last spring. Now we’re afraid to travel. We used to be able to have differences of opinion. We could discuss and debate. Now opposing sides are viewed as wrong, even evil. And I say that from both sides of issues. We talk about morality, and yet religion is used to divide. Christianity was equated with love. Now I find it embarrassing to say I’m a Christian. I’m not ashamed of Christ. I’m ashamed of His “followers” that reject his teachings on love and acceptance. Both sides use the term “radical”. Some talk of radical love and others accuse the opposition of radical hate.

This is the reality we face today. But I have to remember that God is watching. He’s calling us to follow his teachings. He is love not hate. He accepts us in our sins, urging us to live lives of refuge. He calls us to love, love, love.

I have to cling to that love. I have to remember; He will overcome this hate. The darkness we find ourselves living in won’t last forever. And He is with us in the darkness. While there is no guarantee of safety, His peace is guaranteed. His forgiveness is. His love is. Hang onto hope. It’s all we’ve got and it needs to be enough.

Photo by Cherry Laithang on Unsplash