Today we have hope, not because people like us or because situations are easy, but because God has placed his unshakable love on us.

If we look to this fallen world to give us hope to continue, it's really just not going to work very well. Just think about the address where you live: -you live with fallen people who inevitably disappoint you in someway, -you live in a broken world where corruption and injustice are commonplace, -you face temptation somehow, someway, every day, -your physical body is growing older and can be infected with disease, -storms and pollution complicate your life, -Satan prowls doing his evil work, -the physical creation groans waiting for redemption, -war and strife pit nation against nation, -partiality and prejudice divide us. God created the world a certain way but sin has corrupted it and it does not function the way he created it or intended it to be so there is constant instability and unpredictability in the world around us. There are times when life is pretty easy and it works well, but there are many other times when financial loss, a sickness, a crime against you, the death of a loved one, etc. makes life very hard . Isn't it so awesome that we don't have to frantically look for hope horizontally where it just can't be found ? The Grace of God has connected us to hope. You see, hope is not a situation, it is not a location, a feeling, or a relationship. Hope is a person and his name is Jesus. His love is unconditional and his Grace is never temporary . He never makes you feel guilty for needing his good gifts and he doesn't ask you to earn what you can never deserve . He never gets tired of you or gives up on a relationship with you . He never throws your sin in your face, or mocks your weaknesses . He forgives all your sins and empowers you to do much better . He is present with you so that you're guaranteed to have everything you need . He came to earth and died a cruel death on the cross so that we can have and know life..... real life . Jesus is your hope as you live in a world where hope is a precious and rare commodity . Remember you are connected to him forever . This means there will be a day when you won't have to hope anymore because the paradise you have hoped for will be the eternal reality in which you live . ‬ Psalm 42 “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration! Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you— even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar. I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. But each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. “O God my rock,” I cry, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?” Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, “Where is this God of yours?” Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!” ‭‭