Hope for the Afflicted
Read: Genesis 41:46-57 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” (v. 52) Do you know the inspirational story behind Saint Patrick’s Day? Raised in Britain amidst tremendous affluence, Patrick was kidnapped as a teenager and sold into slavery in the neighboring nation […]
Hope for the Outmatched
Read: 1 Samuel 17:41-50 For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand. (v. 47) In the Disney classic The Lion King, there is a scene where Simba, the young heir to the throne, is tricked into exploring a dangerous graveyard. Three hyenas arrive on the scene, ready to attack […]
Hope for the Meek
Read: Matthew 5:1-12 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. (v. 5) Bruce Lee was a legendary figure. A phenomenal martial artist and actor, Lee used his significant influence to challenge prevailing stereotypes about Asian culture, especially in media representations. His physical capabilities and fitness regimen were famous, to the point where […]
Hope for the Single Parent
Read: Genesis 21:8-21 And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. (v. 16) I was raised by a single mother. As I reflect on my childhood, I’m sure it wasn’t easy for my mother raising me and my siblings alone. In addition to the concerns about safety that every parent […]
Hope for the Addicted
Read: Romans 7:14-25 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (v. 24) Several years ago, I worked at a large drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Chicago. Despite the large budget, wonderful facility, and excellent personnel, there was a sense of despair in the residents. Many had little […]
Hope for the Brokenhearted
Read: Psalm 34:15-18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted. (v. 18) At any given moment, at least one song (if not several) at the top of the Billboard charts is about love gone wrong. Songs about unrequited love and broken hearts are ubiquitous because they speak to a universal aspect of human existence: sorrow. […]
Hope for the Weary
Read: Matthew 11:25-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (v. 28) In 1995, I attended a Christian college leadership training camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The camp was two weeks long, with the first week designated for a few student leaders who would be trained […]
Hope for the Faithless
Read: John 21:9-19 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” (v. 15) My teenage son is a fan of the British sci-fi television show Doctor Who, a drama about a maverick (the “Doctor”) who travels time and space fixing the wrongs […]
Hope for the Hopeless
Read: 1 Peter 1:3-5 He has caused us to be born again to a living hope. (v. 3) We live in a world where many foundations are crumbling. Many institutions are fading. People that we admired and respected are being exposed as predators and frauds. Natural disasters have become more devastating. And in our lives, […]