Love Never StopsSample

Day 4: Hope & Connection

The Power of Hope:

Hope is a powerful emotion. To have hope is to have vision for what you expect. Hope can drive a person to greatness. A single hope can sustain a person for a lifetime. Providing hope to those who do not possess it can change someone's outlook on life and transform their destination. God’s people are providers of hope.

Hope doesn’t show up in someone’s life all by itself. Hope is something that is wooed and cultivated. Romans shows us that there must be the right moment, circumstances must converge, and a certain disposition must be present in a person’s life if hope is to take hold. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Rom 15:13).” As the people of God, we must practice helping others achieve joy and peace, surrounded by ideals that they can believe in, the family/community of God, if they are going to win over the hope that eludes them.

The Power of Connection:

Hope is found in connection and it’s our job as the people of God to connect with those who need hope. Hope is something that breeds when you know you are not alone. This is how God interacts with His people, connecting with us to give us hope, and He empowers us to seek the welfare of others in the same way. The Apostle Paul said it best.

“3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (2 Cor 1:3-4).”

As the people of God, we must identify those who lack hope and connection. We must utilize the power of hope and the power of connection, so that others, strangers, families, have the opportunity to experience God Himself so that their lives will forever be changed by Him. It is in this process of exercising the power of hope and connection on behalf of others that our love never stops.

Reflection/Discussion Questions:

When is a time you have been provided hope through another person?

How can you be a giver of hope today to someone who is lonely and disconnected?