Communicating our message of hope

I am reflecting today, with some concern, on reports over the last few weeks that many young people in our country and indeed abroad are feeling that their hopes and dreams are being diminished or destroyed by the current national and international situation.  For many, the big issues like economic instability, the recent pandemic, poverty, hunger, wars, climate change and more, all seem to threaten their future.
What partly sparked my thinking was an interesting quote that flashed onto my hotel television screen on CNN whilst I was travelling on business recently.  It said something like, “we have an obligation to communicate a message of hope to our young people” - an encouraging assertion from an unexpected source.
 
The phrase sounded almost biblical, and of course, its core message is just that, for there is much in the Scriptures to offer comfort and encouragement to the young and indeed, those of us who are not-so-young.  But we have a problem, for today’s young people have been described, rightly or wrongly, as “the first generation to try to live life without God.”  So given that situation, where do we start?
 
Well, we might begin with the many reminders from history that the challenges we face, as serious as they are, will not last; solutions (eventually) will be found – even to the most intractable situations – and the future is not as bleak as we might fear.
However, that kind of secular rationale won’t satisfy and doesn’t get to the heart of the matter.  The true hope for the future does lie in something or someone deeper – the hope for the future is found in the Bible.
 
Surely there is comfort in the fact that God knows the end from the beginning, that nothing can ever happen that will take God by surprise, and that whatever the magnitude of the challenges we face, He will walk beside us every step of the way.
Over the years, I’ve come to believe that many people who don’t attend church or read their Bible are not as far away from the Kingdom as we might think.  So maybe it’s time to take a risk or two, and in the inevitable conversations on the ‘state of the world’, share a word or two from the Bible or our own Christian experience. 
We can use our own words to capture the truths in verses like: “God is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t worry.” (Deuteronomy 31:8 – The Message)
 
Jesus said, “I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” (John 16:33 – The Message)
 
As we continue in our journey through 2023, let’s challenge ourselves to consider how can we collectively and individually find ways of communicating our message of hope with those around us and to take action when opportunities arise to share that hope and the unbreakable bond of God’s love that underpins it.
Ken Carter