Giving Hope 

Paul wrote “…I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.” (1 Cor. 9:22-23 ESV)

I am a teacher working in a rough city, in what is considered by reputation, the worst school. My students’ lives range the gambit, and before I got there, some of them had not learned anything from their previous teachers. So, I decided to bring two things to my classroom: strict boundaries and hope. You see, as Christians we follow the God who is love and hope, which makes us rich in both. It is our inheritance that we can give away freely. We Christians should all be philanthropists, passing on the riches of our faith; in this case, hope and love.

   "... as Christians we follow the God who is love

                                                   and hope, which makes us rich in both."

Today the narrative filling our ears and permeating our eyes is hopelessness. It’s in the media, internet, and television. It is saying what is wrong is right, and what is right is wrong. Don’t believe me? Just turn on your phone, television, computer, YouTube, or grab newspaper. The headlines scream about how the world is a horrible place: wars, sex trade, ISIS, floods, disease and plagues, obesity, hunger, riots, racism, sexism, injustice, conspiracies … (can you see the point?!) Hopelessness is the free commodity to the masses; a ravenous consuming darkness dished out by the news, TV, and movies to snuff out candles of hope one story at a time.

We, who follow Christ, are Hope Bringers. Whether it is at our jobs, in our homes, our families, or relationships we can bring and give hope to those around us. It can be as simple as starting with a smile or as complex as righting a wrong from your past. Hope comes in a myriad of ways and we as Christians have an unlimited reserve from the Creator himself.

                       "We, who follow Christ, are Hope Bringers..."

Does that make it easy?

Not at all. I remember waking to a flat tire, getting mud on my clothes from changing the tire within fifteen minutes, and still having to get to school on time. I made it and still had to bring hope to my classes. It was not easy that day. I was running with just the smallest about of patience and what seemed an empty tank of hope. Still what I had – I gave.

So how do we produce hope on days when everything seems empty and frayed? Paul said it like this to the Romans:

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (5:2-5 ESV)

How does this translate into something we can use for our everyday?

In these times when the heart is troubled we must search for new wells. We must seek the simplicity of new hopes that can be found everyday. To listen to people sing songs on homemade videos, watch someone play a violin on the streets of Thailand, slam a poem across the ether to whoever will listen, or even a child’s simple appreciation. Each song heard, each instrument played, each word spoke can ignite, grow and refresh our hope in God and His creation. To me these people’s actions are testimonies to hope, dreams and accomplishment. Look for them.

"...Each song heard, each instrument played, each word spoke can        

                     ignite, grow and refresh our hope in God and His creation..."

Last thing to remember.

            Luke tells the story of two horrible thieves on the cross. These where bad guys whom most likely took the lives of those they stole from, lied, and cheated before being crucified. These where considered the irredeemable. Then, with a single act of nobility, one defended Jesus from the jeering of the other thief. I would like to believe this man was the first person in heaven. Which means if a horrible, rapscallion of a human being like that being crucified next to Christ can get into heaven, anyone can. That is Hope!

We are bringers of change. Every day we have the chance to bring hope to others, to bring change through the currency of Christ, to expand the kingdom and impact the world for the better. We, as Christians, are part of the solution one day, one moment, one interaction at a time. 

 Jason Rodriguez is writer and founder of gravitos. He is a passionate speaker and        teacher from California. Jason is an Oral Roberts University graduate who loves living life with his wife Jules and three children. His believes in reformation through hope.