Hope

There are so many times in our individual lives and in the world as a whole when confusion, fear, hate, and desperation threaten to swallow us. These times cause us to panic and swim towards the danger when we think we're swimming away from it. We feel trapped, hemmed in, and paralyzed. And we lose hope.

But God, who is rich in mercy (Eph. 2:4), has overcome all evil. He has defeated death. He is LORD, dependent on no one and no thing. He can and does give us a living hope that can never perish, spoil, or fade (1Peter 1:4). So no matter what explodes around us or in us, we have everything we need for life and godliness through the power of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness, He has given everything for life. (2 Peter 1:3).

Without Him we have nothing we need. With Him we have everything we need. When we look at the people around us we can see them as God sees them--His creation who He bought with a price. We can see them as being just as in need of salvation as I was before Jesus and just as lost as I would be with out Him. My fellow human beings are held captive by sin. Condemning them for their captivity may be what they deserve but then it's absolutely what I deserve and to the same degree. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

Understanding, insight, wisdom, compassion, and our security come freely from Him because He loves us and He is love. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us because His love endures forever. (Psalm 106:1) His steadfast love endures. Forever He endures.