Crying Out for Hope
Recently I’ve heard of two very sad stories where people were aimlessly crying out for HOPE, not realizing they could cry out to God directly and be set free with eternal and abundant LIFE.
One story was of a boy that was being tormented by voices in his head. His family and those connected with him didn’t realize the spiritual implications of the situation and so they encouraged him to go to a psychiatrist. He ended up being admitted on a mental ward where he was prescribed medication. He was in and out of the ward several times but still the voices continued to trouble him– he just couldn’t get them out of his head. He didn’t know where to turn or what to do to bring PEACE to his being. In the end, the young high school graduate’s body was found visibly hanging from a tree close to the city-center of his hometown.
How sad can this be? People wanted to help him be relieved but didn’t realize this could only be done through Jesus Christ. Without finding hope in Christ, the young man’s pain could not be alleviated. He thought the only way out was death– when, in fact, it was LIFE.
The other story was told by a young woman who was a neighbor to whom she thought were husband and wife. She heard constant arguing. It was so bad that she no longer felt safe living in that place. She would hear the man yell, “Get out, get out!” so many times, that she finally decided to look out her door and see who he was chasing. But, she never, ever, saw anyone leave. She soon realized that there was actually only one person living in the apartment beside her and that he was arguing with evil spirits that were tormenting him. He would cry out day and night often saying, “To how many places will I have to move, to try and get away from you?” There were tormenting voices within him that he could never get rid of even when he physically tried to move to different locations. They just kept following him. He continues to cry out trying to get rid of them day and night. But, there’s no relief because he doesn’t know where to turn.
These stories of course aren’t isolated cases. My husband used to have a contract picking up medical equipment that had been rented out. The scenes behind some of the doors he knocked on broke his heart. The conditions some people were living in were inhumane. When opportunity arose, he made the most of it by sharing with people about HOPE and LIFE in Christ.
When I hear of such sad stories, it makes me realize just how many people are actually out there that are crying our for HOPE! And LOVE! So many are in search of PEACE! Of true and satisfying LIFE! I am compelled to pray for those who feel all alone, abandoned, helpless, hopeless and in need of relief– in need of a SAVIOUR that can rescue them from darkness. I am also challenged to be open to the Spirit’s leading so I too can make the most of every opportunity to bring HOPE to all those around.
For those of you out there who are feeling helpless or hopeless today, I want to encourage you that there is HOPE! There is a way out of your situation. The way out is not by depression or addiction or death– it is through LIFE in CHRIST. You can cry out to God and He will come and save you (Isaiah 35:4). When you call on Him, He will answer (Psalm 91:15). He is not willing that any should perish but that all would have everlasting LIFE (John 3:16).
There’s always HOPE in Him. He sent His Son Jesus to set people free from evil, from sin, from death, from sickness and disease– from all that ails a man or a woman on this earth. He came to set the captives free (Isaiah 61:1). He came for you and He’s there for you. All who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13).
There is HOPE. God’s plans are not to harm you but to give you a HOPE and a FUTURE (Jeremiah 29:11). His plans for you are GOOD. He’s written all your days (Psalm 139:16). He’s planned your life out. You don’t have to try and strive on your own. You don’t have to just suck it up and try to make it through life on your own. You can ask God for guidance by His Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to reconcile you back to the Father, your Creator. He created you with purpose! He created you to have fellowship with Him! He created you to enjoy all of creation. You are His prized possession. The King of kings and the Lord of lords is on your side. In fact, those who belong to Christ, who have committed their lives to Christ, belong to His Kingdom and are seated in heavenly places with Him where He’s given everything needed for life and godliness (Ephesians 2:6; 2 Peter 1:3).
There is HOPE. There is PEACE. There is LOVE. There’s everything you need to live this life. God promised to never leave you, nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). And Jesus echoed the same, “I’m with you always even unto the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). People can abandon you. People can reject you. Voices and thoughts can come in and torment you. But, Jesus is there ready for you to call out to Him and He will come and save you. He will give you PEACE that passes all understanding and that will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). He will give you a JOY that is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). And in your time of weakness, His STRENGTH will be perfected (2 Corinthians 12:9).
He will never abandon or reject you. He’s right there ready to help you. And, its “right there” where hope abides. Will you reach out to HOPE today? Hope has a name and His Name is Jesus!
For those of us who have HOPE, let us not grow weary in doing good. Let us lean in close to Jesus– growing in our intimacy with Him so we can carry His presence to this world. A world full of precious people who so desperately need HIM and the LIFE and HOPE that HE alone can bring!
