Hope is Life

I have always said that without hope, one is as good as dead.

Hope is that deep belief in your heart and mind that, no matter the circumstances, there will be a positive outcome. When hope is absent, the mind becomes a breeding ground for negative thoughts—thoughts that drain life, steal strength, and smother the will to keep going. The heart, in turn, releases negative emotions: sadness, fear, loneliness, despair. And when these take root, they can lead someone into a dark, cold, and empty place. A place many of us have found ourselves in at some point—a state of hopelessness.

Ironically, I’m writing about hope in a season when I feel I need it the most. This past month has been especially difficult. Even as I put these words down, I’m wrestling with thoughts I wouldn’t dare speak aloud. If someone else were to voice them, my heart would break for them. I’d want to sit with them, give them a hug, listen without judgment—just be there so they wouldn’t feel alone.

Sometimes we hurt—because of what we’ve been through, what we’re going through, or what we fear lies ahead. Pain clouds our thoughts and emotions. More often than not, those thoughts are dark and heavy. And without hope to anchor us, that’s how someone can end up giving up on life entirely.

Let me share just a few real stories—stories that shattered my heart:

·         A young college student finds herself pregnant. Afraid of her parents’ reaction, the shame from her village, and the judgment of her Christian peers, she chooses to have an abortion. Tragically, she doesn’t survive the procedure.

·         A teenage girl, born HIV-positive, is worn out by the constant stigma. She’s tired of being questioned by her friends—why she always takes medication, why she doesn’t go out drinking, partying, or engaging in things they consider “normal.” Tired of it all, she begins to believe the lies spoken over her—that maybe she’s cursed, maybe she doesn’t have a future. Eventually, she gives in to hopelessness. She overdoses, and she too passes away.

·         A young man in the village wrestles with his identity. He feels unloved, unsure of where he belongs, and lacks guidance. He dreams of becoming someone meaningful—a man with a family and a future—but that dream feels unreachable. Instead, he joins a gang of young men involved in theft and sexual violence. He, too, loses his life.

·         A boy in Nairobi is surrounded by the fast-paced, flashy life of the city. He tries to juggle being a good student, the pressure to party, and living up to the expectations of parents who love him dearly. He attends a party, takes a harmful substance, and never makes it home.

These are not just stories—they are lives I’ve witnessed slip away. Every time, I’ve found myself thinking, I understand them. I wish I had been there for them.

That’s why I strive to be present for my friends, for anyone who may be silently battling something heavy. If we claim to know God, we are called to reflect His love. That means being there for others in their lowest moments, speaking words of life, and helping them find hope again. Sometimes, just being there is enough.

Let us be a light to others. Let us choose to live out love. Let us be bringers of hope.

 

Here are a few Bible verses on hope—to encourage yourself or someone else who may need it:

Isaiah 40:31 - But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Micah 7:7 - But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

Romans 5:3-4 - Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 15:13 - 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.

1 Corinthians 13:13 - And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Jeremiah 29:11 ~ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Romans 15:13 ~ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 12:12 ~ Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Hebrews 11:1 ~ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Isaiah 40:31 ~ But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Romans 8:24-25 ~ For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

1 Peter 1:3 ~ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

 

 

And finally, here are some songs you can listen to when hope seems to be failing.

Danny Gokey- Haven’t seen it yet

Haven't seen it

Kirk Franklin- My World Needs You

My world needs you right now

Chris Rice- Go Light Your World

Carry your candle