I KNOW IT MAY BE DIFFICULT to say there is hope, while what you see around you may appear to be anything but hopeful. It’s all too easy to slip into  an attitude of cynicism and despair by looking at your own set of circumstances. I don’t know what your typical day may look like. But, some things are common to us all. Most of us have heard some sort of bad news even before we’ve hardly finished our cup of morning coffee. There is so much bad news in the world. Economic despair, skyrocketing food and gas prices, joblessness, homelessness, marriage and family pressures, the COVID pandemic, and the list goes on and on. Bad news travels fast, doesn't it?

But, let me give you the good news. The good news is actually The Good News of the gospel! Because of Jesus Christ, no matter what things look like, we have a great hope and a bright future. Because God loves us, He wants us to know that hope is not just around the corner. Hope is right where you are. Hope is not just a wish away. Hope is available to you now, right now. When you make hope at home in your heart, you will learn that hope is always where Jesus is Why? Because hope is a person and that Person is Jesus. When the world says ‘Give up! Give in! Give out’, hope always says, ‘Try it one more time.’ The naysayers say, "Looks like we missed our opportunity." Hope says," Your best days are still ahead." Dear friend, as long as you keep focusing on you and your circumstances, on you and your problems, your problems will always seem bigger than your God. It’s time we quit shouting our problems and whispering our praises. When you look to God and remember His hope-filled promises, when you rehearse His hope-filled truths, your problems will diminish in comparison to how big He is. My faith soars when I read this promise.

Hope in the LORD! Be strong! Let your heart take courage! Hope in the LORD!

Psalm 27:14 (CEB)

An excerpt from Babbie Mason's book, Embraced By God.