Shooting the Breeze
I think we all have experienced times in our lives when things just seemed hopeless. Sometimes our situations feel so out of control and we can’t believe what is happening.
We can’t believe that our parent died at such a young age.
We can’t believe that our spouse walked out on us.
We can’t believe that we have just been diagnosed with cancer.
When we come to this point in our lives, it feels like there is no way past our problems. We’re convinced that life will never be the same again. We feel like there is no hope.
When we find ourselves in this place, we have to remember that we are not the first people who have ever felt this way. Millions of people throughout the ages have felt these exact same feelings.
Jesus’ disciples felt this way the day He was crucified.
Hope had died in the hearts of Jesus’ most loyal friends and followers the day He died on the cross. They felt more powerless, more hopeless than they had ever felt in their lives.
The problem was, the disciples were only seeing part of the message. “Christ defeated” was all they knew. But then on the third day the fog of disappointment and misunderstanding lifted, and they (and the world) received the complete message: “Christ defeated death!”
Defeat was turned into victory; death was turned into life! In a matter of hours, the disciples journeyed from hopeless to hope-filled. From powerless to powerful.
This is good news for all of us in who are in desperate need of hope today!
Pete Wilson in his book “Plan B” states that there are two types of hope in is this world:
One is hoping for something, and the other is hoping in someone. (pg. 169)
The problem is that everything that we hope in will one day eventually disappoint us. Every circumstance, every situation, every relationship we put our hope in is eventually going to wear out, fall apart, give out and go away.
Pete goes on to say:
That’s the problem with hoping in something. That’s why the only dependable hope is hope in someone. Or, rather, Someone. The entirety of Scripture points to one cross, one man, one God – not because he gives us everything we’re hoping for but because he is the One in whom we put our hope. pg. 170
This is why I can find hope in the midst of any crisis I may face. I can have hope when it feels like there is no reason to have hope.
I can have hope because my hope is based on a powerful, in-control God who can do and will do the impossible.
My hope is based on a God who has defeated death itself!
This same hope is available to you as well.
When everything seems hopeless we need to remember:
Even though life is uncertain, God is not. While our power is limited, God is limitless. He still has the whole world in his hands.
Your world may feel chaotic and hopeless right now but remember God is still in control!
Does your life feel out of control and hopeless right now?
This is a continuation to my book club discussions of Pete Wilson’s book “Plan B”. This week I read Chapter 11: Power and Hope. If you have a response, please add it below and add to the discussion. Whether you’ve read the chapter or not, please share your thoughts!
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Hi Kevin
What a great blog for this time of the year.
Well i can say with a open hart “Been there done that got the T-Shirt ”
BUT i did not stay there.
If I am going to start to tell what all turn against me in life I will right a book and that is not the place for that LOL .
What I want to say it is all up to use to get us back on track if we don’t
work on our self’s and decide to change out thoughts and Attitude then we will stay were we are because God is a gentle man He never change our minds for us or decide for us if it was like that then we were all robots Pre programd by somebody (GOD) . But God did put things in place for us to do that, the pity is people don’t know how to use it , and that is the thing call ‘MIND” .
God give every one of us a mind to use and it is up to us what we what to do with it. If you decide to stay negative then God cant help you because the law that he put into the universe works against you and he cant change it just because you know him or not , But if you decide to change you (Mind)r way of thinking and take the first step He will help you to get were you want to be and again the law will work for you and not against you.
I know not a lot of people do see life like that or “GOD” but one day HE just open it up to me and then suddenly every thing in life did make sens to me.
Regards
Theuns
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Theuns!
Powerful post!!
Thanks for the inspiration Pete! I am loving “Plan B”!
Wow, what a powerful message you give in this blog post. I couldn’t be more happy to support a message than “Our Hope in Jesus”.
I love the way you put this message together, pulling form:
Pete Wilson in his book “Plan B” states that there are two types of hope in is this world:
Thank You for sharing such a powerful message.
Sincerely,
Bill
Thanks for sharing Bill!
Gosh, what a tremendous message.
You have reminded me about Christ all over again. I find your message really powerful.
Even though life is uncertain, God is not. While our power is limited, God is limitless. He still has the whole world in his hands.
Your world may feel chaotic and hopeless right now but remember God is still in control!
Alleluyah to that….
Thanks for sharing Irene!
This is such a tremendous reminder. To me, the biggest challenge is hoping in the midst of circumstances and trials that make us question the very existence of God. The antidote is the faith of Hebrews 11, and believing in Who God is, and What He promises: even if we don’t see those promises fulfilled immediately. Our job is to submit and obey and believe.
Great thoughts Steve!
Thanks for sharing!
I needed this today! Thanks Kevin, feeling like there is no hope at the moment, but maybe you have stirred it up a bit.
Hi Scott! I hope all is well!
Keep holding onto the hope that you have in Christ!