July marks the halfway point of 2020. Sometimes it seems this year has been going on forever and, at other times, it seems it has gone by like a whirlwind.

Given the current local and global circumstances, have you met anyone that is discouraged, “down on their luck”, or without hope? I have. Have you seen the rioters on TV that lash out in anger at anyone or anything around them? I watch in horror and disgust, wondering how such behavior will change anything. Then I curl up in my easy chair and take a nap, trying to shut it all out, which seldom works. Face it, the world’s problems are not amenable to any solutions man can come up with.

If I am honest, if it weren’t for the Lord, I would be in the same boat of anger and hopelessness as those on TV. A life without Christ breeds behavior that doesn’t care about consequences; doesn’t care about others; and doesn’t care about the future because they believe there is none. And without Christ, they indeed will not have a good future.

But thank God, the Bible is infused with verses about HOPE…

Hebrews 6:19-20 presents a wonderful word picture…Lord, help me to hear you saying, “I am your hope”, over all the other voices…Lord, your Word says you are the hope for the hopeless. So, I am running to you with both hands stretched out and grabbing on to you. Fill me up with hope and give me a tangible reminder today that hope is an unbreakable spiritual lifeline.

How about Psalms? “As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” Ps. 71:14

Here’s another one: “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits and in His Word I put my hope.” Ps. 130:5

I found about 30 verses directly speaking about hope. I am sure there are even more to encourage and lift up your sagging spirit if you look for them. Let me close with Romans 15:13 that says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

So don’t let this world take your hope. Instead, give an overflow of hope to those around you that may not have it. Give generously every chance you get. Someone’s life may depend on it.