Speaking of Life 5007 | Jesus is Our Hope
Cara Garrity

Have you ever felt soul-weary with the state of the world or the state of your personal corner of the world? With news of war, disease, scandal, division, and suffering it may feel too easy to be disheartened in this world. To be sure, there is beauty and joy all around us – just catch a sunset, children at play, or the waves upon the shore to be reminded of this. Even so, on our most weary and suffer-saturated days, we may find ourselves questioning if the despair outweighs the beauty.

Even when it seems like solutions to our problems are clear or easy answers are promised over and over again, we find that our willpower falls short of making things right. We’ve been disappointed in our leaders—political, business, even religious—who we expected to lead us towards brighter futures. We’ve been disappointed in ourselves when we’ve failed to contribute to a better world. The truth is, at one point or another, human beings let each other down. If we are honest with ourselves, we might admit that sometimes we lose hope in one another and in this world.  

The good news is, there is one in whom we can securely place our hope. There is one who will never let us down. There is one who makes all things right. His name is Jesus. He is our hope.

Let’s look at what is written in the book of Isaiah about Jesus:

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.
Isaiah 42:1-4a

Our hope is secure in Jesus. While we may experience and witness despair in this world, we know despair will not have the last word because Jesus will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on Earth. He is making all things new. While we will not see the complete restoration of all things until the kingdom of God comes in its fullness, we can trust Jesus’ proclamation that the kingdom is here and bear witness to the aromas of Jesus’ kingdom and present ministry in our midst even now.

Next time you feel as though despair is outweighing the beauty of this world, look to Jesus – the one who gives us beauty for ashes. Know that even when our hope falters, he never will. Jesus is our hope, and he will not let us down.

I’m Cara Garrity, Speaking of Life.