Hope

By Darrel Proffitt, Lead Pastor
I recently finished the book Sometimes you Win, Sometimes you Learn by the leadership guru John Maxwell.  I recommend the book because it helps us to see that failure is an important aspect to leading.  Failure is not fatal, it’s just feedback.
 Maxwell reminds the reader of the importance of hope.  A person can live a long time without food, a few days without water but only seconds without hope.  Maxwell asks the question, what does hope do for us? 

• Hope shines brightest when the hour is darkest.
• Hope motivates when discouragement comes.
• Hope energizes when the body is tired.
• Hope sweetens when the bitterness bites.
• Hope sings when all melodies are gone.
• Hope believes when the evidence is limited.
• Hope listens for answers when no one is talking.
• Hope climbs over obstacles when no one is helping.
• Hope endures hardship when no one is caring.
• Hope smiles confidently when no one is laughing.
• Hope reaches for answers when no one is asking.
• Hope presses toward victory when no one is encouraging.
• Hope dares to give when no one is sharing.
• Hope brings the victory when no one is winning.

In other words, hope brings the greatest gift to those who have it.  Hope gives.  When you feel like you have nothing, when your resources are tapped, hope gives us the fuel to go on.  It is inspirational and essential to all of life.
 Do you have hope?  Where do you find it?  What do you do when you experience it?  Hope endures, empowers and encourages.  You can live without a lot but hope is essential.  As Christians, hope is our lifeblood.  Thank God that we have hope in abundance!  God is sufficient and sovereign.  It is in God that we find our hope.