Fostering Hope

Where does hope come from?

And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. - Romans 5:3-5

In his letter to the Romans. Paul says that hope springs from suffering.

He makes it sound like the work is all ours, from suffering to endurance and character.  We have to take the initiative to bring hope to the fore.

And once we do take those steps, it is God's love that does not disappoint us.

So, it sounds like it might be very hard for us to help someone else become hopeful.  So, should we not try?

Without hope, there is despair, and despair leads to death.  So, if we truly love one another, as Christ commands, then we need to help each other find hope.

We can do that, I think, by helping those who are suffering endure.  It is the first step Paul mentions, endurance.  For if someone can keep going despite the suffering, he will gain confidence in himself and that will open the door to hope.

The winning combination, therefore, may be self-confidence and perseverance.

Sometimes all it takes is one positive event to change someone's attitude from negative to positive.  All they may need is one person to offer an opportunity to stand on one's own feet, to earn a day's pay, to fend for themselves.

Fostering hope, then, is not so much an act of charity as it is a statement of need.  If I show you that I need your help, and you provide it, both of us benefit.

I get the help I need, and you gain the self-confidence that may lead to self-sufficiency.

So, what I would like to do is to foster hope by creating opportunities for people to use their talents and strengths to help themselves endure.  It is the next logical step.  First we feed you, then we find opportunities for you to work to feed yourself.

That is the challenge Jesus gave us all when he told us to love one another.  Through God's love, we can foster hope, because as Paul tells us, "hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. "

So, do you know of any opportunities I can offer to those who come for a meal?

If so, let me know.

More to come...