“Hope deferred makes the heart grow sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12, NIV
Recently when sharing with a gathering of folk, who were people who had influence with those with whom they work and train. I shared we are all guilty of failing to realize the power of the influence that we have. I know when I get busy and perhaps even frustrated, the outflow of my heart can expose negative emotions and that largely it is caused by my selfishness when things are not going my way.
The message I shared with them was along with the context that as Christian leaders, our call is to be hope-givers in all circumstances. True hope looks beyond failures, negative circumstances, and into the eyes of each person where we see the gleam of an Image-bearer of the God of Creation.
The smell of evil can be the stink of hopelessness. Withholding hope from a circumstance happens when we try to be God.
The fruit of the presence of the Holy Spirit has an ever-present aroma of hope at all times, in all circumstances. It is alive with a refreshing renewal and is a vibrant rebuilder of hope, relationships, purpose, confidence, and courage and is an investor in people over things. It is an investor in relationships over results.
Most importantly, what keeps this from being some “feel good” mentality is that if we know our place is to be hope-givers, then we also know the Hope of the Grace of Jesus Christ. Those who don't believe in God think that pain, death, and disappointment are “the real world” and that’s all there is. Believers in the Truth of the Cross know these things are painful distortions and that victory only comes through the Truth-giver. It is through the teachable moments of failures, mistakes, and shortcomings that present us opportunities to lead others to the hope of Hope in the face of Truth and Justice.
Giving grows hope
“Hope deferred makes the heart grow sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12, NIV
Recently when sharing with a gathering of folk, who were people who had influence with those with whom they work and train. I shared we are all guilty of failing to realize the power of the influence that we have. I know when I get busy and perhaps even frustrated, the outflow of my heart can expose negative emotions and that largely it is caused by my selfishness when things are not going my way.
The message I shared with them was along with the context that as Christian leaders, our call is to be hope-givers in all circumstances. True hope looks beyond failures, negative circumstances, and into the eyes of each person where we see the gleam of an Image-bearer of the God of Creation.
The smell of evil can be the stink of hopelessness. Withholding hope from a circumstance happens when we try to be God.
The fruit of the presence of the Holy Spirit has an ever-present aroma of hope at all times, in all circumstances. It is alive with a refreshing renewal and is a vibrant rebuilder of hope, relationships, purpose, confidence, and courage and is an investor in people over things. It is an investor in relationships over results.
Most importantly, what keeps this from being some “feel good” mentality is that if we know our place is to be hope-givers, then we also know the Hope of the Grace of Jesus Christ. Those who don't believe in God think that pain, death, and disappointment are “the real world” and that’s all there is. Believers in the Truth of the Cross know these things are painful distortions and that victory only comes through the Truth-giver. It is through the teachable moments of failures, mistakes, and shortcomings that present us opportunities to lead others to the hope of Hope in the face of Truth and Justice.
Lets be hope givers today.