“There’s Always Hope”

Romans 8:25 “But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

There is a beautiful song written and sung by The Gaither Band called “Something Worth Living For.”

It tells us that when we think our life is shattered, all our hope is gone, and everything seems lost and abandoned, God picks us up and gives us something to live for.  He puts in front of us a vision of happier and fulfilled days. He gives us hope.

Somewhere there is a young woman, or a young man, who has made very bad decisions despite the love, concern, and help from those who care deeply about them. They may be hooked on drugs, or a type of affliction, they’ve stolen, or shown disrespect to all they come in contact with.

Nothing seems important to them except having fun, partying and “fitting in” with the crowd. 

They involve themselves in the company of people who only take and manipulate whatever they can from them and, yet, they are told by these “low-lifes” that they are the only ones that care about them.  

They are told and convinced that they will be taken care of only to find themselves deeper in a foggy mindless world with little to look forward to except the four walls of a dirty room, a lonely cell, or worse.  

And regardless of the many times they are pulled back into reality, they continue to repeat the process. 

So why should we care about them, if they don’t even care about themselves?  Because of hope; hope that through the uplifting of prayers on their behalf they will realize that they do matter and there is “something” out there “worth living for.”  

Hope that someday they will realize that the only way out of their shattered life and crushing load of despair is to cry to the One, and only One, that can pick them up, clean them off and put them on a higher ground.  

In Hebrews 6:11 Paul says, “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end…” In other words, don’t give up hope.

I’m sure that the hope and faith he had in God, that the father of the prodigal son believed his son would return to him someday. His hope in his son’s eventual return ended in a happy and joyous celebration.

Never give up on those you love.  No matter how many times they may laugh and make fun of your spiritual words of encouragement, they still need to hear them.  They need to know that there will always be someone who loves them enough to stand strong through their ridicule and laughter.  It’s worth it, knowing that at any moment, any day, anywhere…His grace will bring them into the family of God and give you all a reason for a happy and joyous celebration.

Pray that God will hear our prayers for the lost and frightened ones that we love so dearly.  Pray that He will give them “Something truly worth living for.”

Nancy Stoppe

Stoppe123@comcast.net