Whisper Hope

“When his vision came round there was a young girl on the ground
And he knew she was finding it hard to cope
She never was a fighter until he laid beside her
And gently whispered hope
They got up to their feet and they sang Hallelujah
People in the street were turning around
They looked them in the eyes and they sang Hallelujah
Oh, there's someone here that we have found
They sang, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
We are the voices crying in the wilderness
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
The people in the street started their sins to confess and a chorus of
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Every knee will bow and every tongue confess
And the voice of one crying in the wilderness
Crying out Hallelujah, Hallelujah.”

~Lyrics from Gabriel and the Vagabond by Foy Vance

This is from one of my favorite songs by Foy Vance on his album, Hope. It doesn’t take much to give someone the hope that tomorrow is going to be a better day, or that their life is worth living. For some, life seems to be a series of disasters lined up like thunder clouds in the distance. For others, life seems to come up roses no matter what they do. The disparity between us can sometimes feel unfair and not worth the trouble. But when we look at others to compare ourselves, we are always going to come up lacking. That is part of the problem in our world today; we are so commercialized and constantly inundated with the idea that if we have more, bigger, better, shinier, and newer things, our lives will be better, happier, and successful. In reality, it’s a lie being sold by an industry that is not in the least bit concerned about anyone’s happiness or success, they are interested in lining their pockets with our money. There’s a line from a movie where the actor plays a person who makes commercials: “It’s sell, sell, sell and we’re all going to hell, but here’s a huge check to smooth out the ride.” Yet, in the midst of all our wealth and the mountains of things that we own, the number of people who are in therapy and on drugs for depression and anxiety are at an all-time high. There is something very wrong with our priorities and how we live our lives.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:4-10).”

I like putting the first words in verse 4 with the last words of verse 10: Rejoice in the Lord and the God of peace will be with you. What we need for peace and happiness will never come from what we can buy, it will always come from what we find inside of us through a relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s not to say we won’t have trials. Our children won’t suddenly become angels, and our spouses won’t become some 50’s TV show idea of marriage, and the bills will still show up on a regular basis, but when we have the peace of Christ within us, those things won’t be our focus. And what we focus on is what we pursue.

^“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.  But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses (1 Timothy 6:9-12).”

When we pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness, fighting the good fight of faith, we are also called to help others. Hopelessness is all around us, but it doesn’t take much to share our hope and faith with those in need. Hope can be seen just as hopelessness can be seen, and it takes so little to share real hope with another person. We are the hope of Jesus Christ to someone who has no hope for tomorrow, so share!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in Heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3-7).”

Read Job 27-31

©2018 Marie McGaha