"Give Them Hope"
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11- NIV
This evening I went to the jail to visit a young man who was incarcerated. While I was waiting for the jailer to bring him down, I was sitting there watching the others who were there to see someone. You could read the expressions on their face. They waited with great anticipation for that once a week visit of only a few minutes with their loved one. It was a little heartbreaking to watch wives who were waiting to see their husbands for the first time in a week, mothers who were waiting to see their sons, children who were waiting to see their father.
I am telling you all this because there is a world out there that is hurting. There are those who are committing crimes, those who are selling their bodies in prostitution, those who are living on the streets, those who have lost their jobs, those who are battling with illnesses, those who are living in difficult situations. I talked with one of the women who's adopted son was in there. The burden of visiting him, taking care of his legal matters, all his outside living expenses was on her. (We just never know what people are going through.) The point is that we need to stop being so self-consumed, venture out of our own little world and start reaching out to others with the love and hope of Jesus Christ. The bottom line as to why the young man that I visited was in there was because he lost hope. He was in what looked like a hopeless situation so he made a choice that he is now having to face the consequences of.
We need to let people know that there is hope.... His name is Jesus. It doesn't matter how hopeless the situation is, He can still make a way and bring something good out of it. Victory looked hopeless for David as he stood before Goliath. Freedom looked hopeless as the Israelites stood before the Red Sea. Deliverance looked hopeless when Daniel was in the lion's den. Healing looked hopeless for Hezekiah. But in each case, God turned the hopeless situation around and worked miracles through it. He can do the same for you. He can do the same for them. But they have to know it. It's our place to let them know. If you know someone who is in a hopeless situation- a coworker, a family member, a friend, a fellow student- get to them today with the message of hope. Point them to Jesus who is our hope.
Have a great day. Don't neglect to let people know that there is hope.
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