"Hope for the Hopeless"

hope[1, verb]
1 : to cherish a desire with anticipation
2 archaic : TRUST
hope[2, noun]
1 : to desire with expectation of obtainment
2 : to expect with confidence : TRUST


Ever hear the phrase, 'Hope for the Hopeless'? To live without a purpose. To see no tomorrow. To find no redemption. That is how the hopeless live.

Based on no grounds, their optimistic side proves weak as they fail to persist at the false hope of a brighter tomorrow. To keep an optimistic view is always good. But the truth is, the hopeless do not base their optimism on hope, rather on what they hear in fairytales and in storybooks; that "..tomorrow will be a brighter day" or rather what I'd like to call a hope based on no grounds. For they do not really believe it. Still, they are desperate for any form of hope to keep their lives hanging by that thin thread.

Some give up and find no reason to live. They resort to self-inflicted pain which often times they claim they do for the reason of wanting to feel something, to remind themselves that they are still alive. Others find comfort in hurting their bodies with drugs and an overdosage of pills.

The truth is, even without being in a tight fix, we all subconsciously need some form of hope to pull us through every day. Little things like hope of being able to wake up to see the faces of our loved ones or big things like hope of having your boyfriend/girlfriend fly home safely to celebrate your 2nd anniversary or just normal everyday things like hope for a good day tomorrow.

Hope starts from trusting, in confidence, that things will get better. Of course we do not put our trust simply in nothing. That would not give us hope, or rather it would not last very long.

Hope lies only in one person, and that one person is Our Great King. With Him in our lives, everything can be made possible if the intentions are right. Believe that your God is a great one. Believe that He will save you from every downfall, every mistake, every sin. Lift up the thoughts that keep you awake at night. Lift up the pain that stakes through your heart everytime you take a breath. Lift up the squabbles and shouting that goes on at home every night, that has left you afraid. Lift up that relationship with your partner that has gone sour and has left you bitter and cold. Ask Him to set you free. Free of the bondages that chain you so tightly and weigh you down so heavily. Just lift these simple words to Him:

"Lord, I lift up my burdens to You in confidence that You will share the load with me and make everything better. I pray this is Your most gracious name, Amen."

He requires no explanation, nor a long story of what has happened or what you need Him to change. He listens not to the words that come out of your mouth but rather to the words in your heart. So don't feel reluctant to ask Him for assistance as not much needs to be said. Whisper Him a little prayer. For though He is a BIG God, He can hear every little prayer from each one of His children. And in a heartbeat, He will be there. Not to watch you carry the load alone, not to stand there and watch you fall but to lift that burden off your shoulders in a breath and set you free.

"I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep." --John 10:14-15

That's how much He loves YOU! That's how far He's willing to go for YOU! HIS SHEEP! HIS PEOPLE! So doubt not His willingness to share your burdens, to share your pain, to share your sufferings! For He is a compassionate God. A merciful God. A God of grace. A mighty God, willing to lay His life down for you and me.

A very wise person taught me this and I wanted to share this with all of you as well, in hope that it may too touch your lives as it has touched mine. When caught in a tight fix we often find ourselves saying, "Oh my God, I have a BIG problem!". Well, next time you find yourself in such a situation, try saying this instead: "Oh my problem, I have a BIG God!"

May God continue to shower His never ending blessings on all of you and I wish you all a very blessed and prosperous Chinese New Year!~