Few things are as radical as hope. Hope is something you can’t live without, yet at times it can be very elusive. The message of hope is needed more now in our world than any other time in history. And the message of hope for our day comes from 2,000 plus years ago: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NLT).
You may have seen the sign in the end zone of a football stadium during the after point kick. It’s a book title: 3:16. I used it as a title for one of my weekend talks many years ago, but it is so much more; it is the message of hope. The message found in these few short words give us insight into God’s plan and desire to have a relationship with us as His masterpiece: God loved and God gave.
Our Part Of Radical Hope
Our part of radical hope is that we receive. Receive what? Receive hope, life, love, purpose, God’s presence, His power, mercy, grace, and peace. Jesus said we receive a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10) in all of our lives!
As you read this you may feel and think that it all sounds well and good, yet you feel the tension of being stuck…stuck in hopelessness…and if I “only knew your situation”. You’re right, I don’t know your particular situation, but I do know the One who offers you hope, the One who paid a tremendous price for you to go from hopelessness to a life of complete hope. Hope is so radical because God paid the price to assure you that you can live in hope.
The Ultimate Antidote To Hopelessness
The ultimate antidote to the hopelessness of loneliness is His presence. You are created as His masterpiece, made to experience His presence continually: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). That’s part of the radical nature of hope. It gets better: “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning” (Lamentations 3:21-23). That includes this morning, and tomorrow morning and the next and the next…radical! His presence that brings radical hope verses hopelessness – which do you choose?
God loved, God gave, we receive – that is the radical nature of hope. Receive His hope afresh and new every morning.
Next Steps
Make it your prayer today to receive His hope today by praying this simple prayer: “Lord, thank You for giving Your Son on the cross for me, now in this moment I receive. I receive the radical hope that You have for me today. Help me to see it throughout every moment of my day today. Amen”
P.S.
In my book Life Palette I share the story of a moment in time when I experience complete hopelessness and how God gave me radical hope that I continually receive: chapter 12 “The Passion Touch”.