It is very easy to be discouraged by the hardships we face in life. When an obstacle gets in our way, it can seem almost impossible to overcome sometimes. Life never gets easier, and in some cases, it appears to only get worse. Social media screams everyday about all the terrible things happening in our world. The news outlets come to all as the bearers of bad news. The people around us bring troubles into our lives that seem so unnecessary. The result of this constant beating is a hopeless, miserable, and dead people. Unfortunately, not one soul is spared of this treacherous reality. However, I would be lying if I said that there is absolutely no hope for this world. I would still be lying if I said that there is only a small trace of hope. Beyond the horizon of despairing times, there is a never ending, glittering hope ready to pour into the lives of every person.
That wonderful and beautiful hope comes from God. Our God is truly something else. He has made a promise to us that is very exciting and life giving. 1 Peter 1:3 states, “Blessed be the God and Father of Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” Jesus’s death and resurrection meant a lot. It meant that all people could come alive through a relationship with Christ. His death meant that even through our obstacles and sufferings we could still walk with life within us. He gives us hope for the future. In our own lives, God has promised several wonderful things. Through Jeremiah 29:11, which states, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”, and Deuteronomy 31:6, which states, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”, we know that God has promised us a good future in which He will never abandon us. Through Christ, there is a beautiful future filled with hope. But don’t be mistaken, though God has plans for welfare, this doesn’t mean that you are exempt from suffering.
We live in a broken and upside down world. This world is covered in darkness, but God is the light that will destroy and snuff out that darkness. However, in the meantime, it is full of trials and tribulations. Luckily, Christ gives us the strength needed to walk through our suffering. He stays by our side and never leaves us on our journey. He loves His creation so much that he wanted to help creation on its journey. Christ died so that we could know Him. He reveals Himself to all so that we might each have a relationship with Him. And in that relationship, there is hope that darkness, brokenness, and wickedness will no longer stand. He gives us hope that justice will prevail and mercy will be remembered. Through Revelations, we can look towards the future with hope knowing that evil will be destroyed.
The world can often feel like a dark and terrible place. No matter where we turn to, someone or something is crying out about the evils of this world. However, through Jesus Christ, we know that evil will not prevail in the end. This is why Christians can stand firm in the midst of chaos. They have the truth in their hearts and the hope it brings in their minds. Therefore, Christians should be a beacon to those who are lost in the darkness. Just as Christ has brought us to life, we too should be seeking to bring life to others. We should stand tall in the face of wickedness and walk humbly along our journey with God. Let every one of us look towards the future with hope in our eyes knowing that we have been brought to life by the Redeemer. And let us plant that same hope into our neighbors. God has come as a light to the earth. He has come to cleanse the earth and fill it with His redeeming message. The pillars of evil shall surely fall, but the Kingdom of Christ will forever stand. So let us all have hope in Christ, our Lord.
Eliya Brannan – 11th Grade
