[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]How much hope do you have—deep down?
We all carry hopes. Some we share on social media: “I hope my team wins the Super Bowl!” Some we dare not whisper: “I hope my child is safe,” “I hope my marriage gets better.” “I hope I get through this.”
To find your hope quotient, ask yourself: How many of these statements ring true?
I might struggle to find hope as…
- My income disappears.
- My child makes dangerous choices.
- I step on the scale or look in the mirror.
- I face another day alone.
- My candidate doesn’t win.
- I did the right thing but failed.
- I can’t subdue my anxiety.
- Others call shameful what I consider beautiful.
- I can’t make things better.
- I watch the news.
Almost everyone can agree to at least one of these. And, right now, I agree with three. So that makes my hope quotient 7 out of 10, or 70%.
Yay?
In school, 70% is a C-minus.
And I know I’m not alone.
Many women, a recent article shows, are struggling. In this Wall Street Journal article, Moms in Middle Age: Rarely Alone, Often Online and Increasingly Lonely, we see how the pandemic drives up our digital connection but plummets our hope.
There is something devastating about hope not fulfilled. Hope can be so fragile that we don’t even want it. We protect ourselves from hoping.
So what’s one secret to finding hope?
LOVE.
Huh? How do hope and love go together?
The Bible says:
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5:3-5)
Problems and trials will come. It’s just when and what we don’t know. But we can be glad for what happens next: endurance, strength of character, and confident hope.
The next part might be the most beautiful. “For we know how dearly God loves us,” the author writes.
We fill with love. Love sets alive a flame. We don’t control or earn it; we cozy up and are warmed.
Your hope quotient score might leave you in a quandary. But it needn’t leave you alone.
Whether you’re at 10%, 50%, or 100%, you can find hope by finding your way back to love. Going here is one simple next step. You can connect with real people—like my buddies and me. We would love to help you find rising hope through God’s love for you.
Hope isn’t easy to find these days.
Or is it? Love is the secret we need.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]