Hope Is ContagiousSýnishorn

HOPE IS CONTAGIOUS

O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. (Psalm 31:23)

Hope is Contagious. It is a highly transmittable virtue. All it takes is one individual to trust and believe in the promise of better. The idea is that in spite of present suffering, change is possible and can transform whole families, communities, coworkers, and congregations. This is because hope is contagious.

Look no further than the 1886 painting by George Frederic Watts entitled “Hope.” This painting ignited Rev. Jeremiah Wright when he heard a lecture on the painting by Dr. Fredrick G. Sampson. Rev. Wright then preached a message entitled, “The Audacity of Hope,” in which one of the listeners was Barack Obama who in turn wrote a book, and launched two campaigns all in the name of, you guessed it, hope. One painting touches a preacher who then births a president because hope is contagious.

That is the precise goal of the writer of Psalms 31 who seeks to inspire trust in God amongst his fellow kingdom citizens. He recounts how God has been his redeemer, rock, and strong tower. While enemies have laid wait for him the Lord has been his refuge. He then called on all listeners to love and place their trust in God because he will see to those that have hope in him.

May your testimony of the faithfulness of God be shared with those in your path of life. May we, according to 1 Peter 3:15; always be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within, because our Hope is contagious.

What makes something contagious? Today focus on how you can make your hope and trust in God contagious to those around you?