12-03-2022 7:00pm

Strong spirits: do you have hope?

Photo: David Stanley

What do you have hope in? Where does your hope come from?

In our world, it seems sometimes like hope is in short supply. We all need it. It keeps us going. Without it, we begin the slide into discouragement, despair, and destruction- even death. We all need hope. Where do we get it?

Oddly enough, the greatest source of hope, the ultimate source of hope, is a place of deep discouragement, despair, and death. It is the cross of Jesus. Out of his death, hope was born for all of us. No matter what we are facing, we can have hope.

"This hope does not disappoint us, for God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God's gift to us. For when we were still helpless, Christ died for the wicked at the time that God chose." the apostle Paul (Romans 5:5,6)

"To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see." (Hebrews 11:1)

Do you have this hope? You can! Just ask...

Gary Schwerin serves as pastor at Caledonia Congregational Church. He is also the Spiritual Development Minister for the YMCA of the Rock River Valley and Executive Director of Bridge Ministries of Rockford. Prior to launching Bridge Ministries, Gary spent many years in leadership with Young Life. His columns appear here every Sunday - to see them all, subscribe to our daily email.