By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
How do I build hope?
Chris Parks
Rev. Chris Parks is the Evangelism Pastor at Life UPC and a member of the United Ministerial Alliance of Liberty County.

Introduction

Throughout the past few months, our nation has witnessed economic struggles, experienced public health concerns, and suffered racial unrest and division. In response to emotional, physical, and spiritual degradation due to our current world struggles, our world must look to something bigger than ourselves for hope. We live in a world that is running low on hope and is need of building hope.  


What is hope?

The word “hope” is synonymous with expectation, trust, and confidence. This word is normally used to express an expectation that something good is about to happen. Hope is something that is not seen and requires patience to receive it (Romans 8:24-25 KJV).


How do I build hope?

The old hymn Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand encourages Building Hope on things eternal.  Paul the Apostle expressed “I will not leave you uninformed” about Building Hope. When identifying hope as eternal, it is misguided to see it within the framework of our current struggles. The current melees of our world do not define our destiny.  Our hope is “out of this world!” Our hope is not found in our earthly habitation. Our hope is in a place that is not made with hands eternal in the heavens! In the words of Jesus, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:3 KJV).


Jesus is the way to our eternal hope.

Jesus built hope by challenging the world view of the local leaders of his time. These leaders had elevated their oral laws to divine status, resulting in dethroning God and separating themselves from others. Jesus challenged this world view decided to Build Hope by inviting “sinners and tax collectors to eat at his table” (Matthew 9:10-11 KJV). Through his inauguration of this New Kingdom of God, Jesus would Build Hope on the principle of love.  


In what ways are you building hope?

If you are reading this, you have been strategically placed between an earthly world that needs hope and the heavenly hope of eternity. Specific to the challenges we face today, the love of Christ is directly essential to building hope in our world. Our love for Christ gives us access to share unconditional, unrelenting, persevering love with those who need hope.


By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, because of our Lord Jesus Christ, we live at peace with God. Christ has also introduced us to God’s undeserved kindness on which we take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God.  But that’s not all! We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope that will never disappoint us. All of this happens because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with his love. (Romans 5:1-5 CEV)


Rev. Chris Parks is the Evangelism Pastor at Life UPC and a member of the United Ministerial Alliance of Liberty County.

Sign up for our e-newsletters