The Light

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” (Desmond Tutu)

Days may be darkest
But Your light is greater
You light our way
God You light our way

When evil is rising
You’re rising higher
With power to save
With power to save

You keep hope alive
You keep hope alive
From the beginning to end
Your word never fails

You keep hope alive
Because You are alive
Jesus You are alive

Death had a stronghold
But Your life was stronger
Rose from the grave
Rose up from the grave

When evil is rising
You’re rising higher
With power to save
With power to save

There’s hope in the morning
Hope in the evening
Hope because You’re living
Hope because You’re breathing

There’s hope in the breaking
Hope in the sorrow
Hope for this moment
My hope for tomorrow[i]

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Hope is defined (by the world) as a feeling of expectation. If all you have to keep you going in life is a feeling you will soon fall apart because feelings change and lie. Christian hope is having trust through faith in expecting God to show up, and make change happen in your situation.

Christian hope is being rooted in faith in a supernatural loving God. It expects the thing God has promised will happen. We’ve all been through times when it seemed like all hope was lost. In those times of despair, what can you do to keep hope alive? Why look at ways to keep hope alive as a Christian?

Confirm your hope daily-Each day you will face challenges that are unique and difficult. Each day you must have some mechanism in place to help you face those new and unique challenges. Don’t postpone hope even when you feel most hopeless. Confirm your hope every way you can. There are many ways to confirm daily your hope. Looking for hope in nature, enjoying kind interactions with others, finding that one’s daily work is meaningful, one can confirm hope in anything.

 

Each small, loving, daily detail in life can confirm hope. Little details and small events show that life is still good. Confirming hope with a positive quote, a meaningful piece of artwork, or a beloved song is enough to change one’s outlook for the day. Remember that you don’t have to do it all by yourself. Seek out hope from God. He can best guide you about what to do. When you can’t do it on your own, you may need help from a pastor or a professional therapist. You never have to go it alone.

 

Do good works-A most effective way to cultivate hope is by doing good. It isn’t necessary to do some amazing thing even small acts of goodness can result in a large harvest of hope. You learn to cultivate hope the same way you learn to walk- one step at a time. Confidence is not the certainty of success, but rather the conclusion that failure does not determine our worth. Small acts of service can provide hopefulness to you.

 

Seek out hopeful people-Perhaps the best way to keep hope alive is by seeking out the company of hopeful people. There may be no better coping mechanism than sharing a problem with a friend. You all know people who regardless of their circumstances keep a smile on their face. In times of darkness, they still radiate light. Just being around these hopeful people helps you to keep hopeful.

 

These people offer words of encouragement, smiles, and positivity even when things seem dark. Hopeful people are often found in churches, and in charitable or community service organization, or perhaps even hopeful professional counselors. Look for them, and try to align your goals with their worthy goals, and you will find your life will be filled with much more hope.

 

Strive to develop confidence-When you are confident, you are hopeful. Challenges are opportunities to be confronted not insurmountable obstacles. Confidence allows you to make goals, and gives you the strength to achieve those goals. You can gain confidence by tackling a task you have been putting off, engaging in a difficult conversation you might have been avoiding, or working on developing a talent.

 

You should focus on effort and progress rather than complete success. Confidence is not the certainty of success, but rather the conclusion that failure does not determine your worth. You lose nothing by trying. As your confidence grows, your hope grows. No one ever told me life would be hard.  I heard repeatedly that the Christian life should be a blessed life.  If you go to church, read your Bible, pray, and avoid sin you should be healthy, wealthy and wise.  That has not been my story.  This is why I share how to keep hope alive as a Christian.

 

Trust in God-When you trust in God, some other changes in our attitude will automatically follow. Trust in God brings positivity and helps you to challenge negative beliefs. That trust allows you to discover the unexpected benefits that come from life’s challenges. There are many examples of people who have suffered setbacks that actually resulted in their being able to achieve later greatness, Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Walt Disney, Dr. Seuss, George Lucas, Henry Ford just to name a few.

 

For example, Albert Einstein didn’t start speaking until he was almost 3, and rarely spoke at all until he was almost 5. People thought that he was mentally disabled. He is now considered to be one of the most intelligent people to have ever lived. You may not know how all life’s adversities will work for our good, but you should have confidence that they will.

 

 “Hope is a beautiful thing. It gives us peace and strength, and keeps us going when all seems lost. Accepting what you cannot change doesn't mean you have given up on hope. It just means you have to focus your hope on more humanly tangible and attainable goals.” (Julie Donner Andersen)[ii]

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[i]  “You Keep Hope Alive” by Mandisa

 

[ii] Sources used:

·        “5 Ways to Keep Hope Alive When All Seems Lost” by Daniel Arkell-Roca

·        “Beyond the Storm: Strategies to Keep Your Hope Alive” by Debra Morton

·        “How to Keep Hope Alive as a Christian” by Tiffany Montgomery