Hope in an Uncertain World {Printable}

Life is tough. We all have hard stuff we deal with: Stuff that weighs us down and makes it difficult for us to face the day let alone the future.

An x-spouse who refuses to pay their share (again); a teenager who refuses to come home at curfew (again); a family member with a chronic illness; an aging parent who can no longer live alone; or a bank account that we wish was as high as zero dollars…

Then we take a look at the news. *Sigh* It’s easy to be discouraged…or frightened. Around the world, trouble looms.

Joblessness. Homelessness. Cancer. Alzheimer’s. Shots fired. Buildings burned. Sexism. Terrorism. Natural disasters. Human disasters. Political conflict. Racial conflict. Human traffickers.  Suicide bombers. Homicide. Genocide. Suicide.

But take heart – there is hope!

In John 16:33b NIV, Jesus said,

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus has overcome the world. All the struggle. All the conflict. All the pain. All the suffering. Even death. Jesus has overcome it all.

In this hope, in Him, we find the courage and the confidence to live and thrive in the midst of the chaos and uncertainty. In Him we have the promise of eternity.  We have the assurance that we are loved no matter what and that we will never be alone in anything we may face. We have the chance to start again. We have strength in our weakness and power in our pain. Because of Him, we too will overcome.

In Jesus is a hope that is more lavish than we could ever expect or imagine and more than we deserve. It is an Extravagant Hope.

How do we live in light of this hope? Want to come along with us as we find out?  We all need hope. Let’s ponder it, explore it, and even run like mad for it – together.