Breathing In Hope

Listen to these words from Psalm 42:
4 These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. 5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior...  As a society, a culture, and a nation - we are in need of hope.   There are elements that lead to personal and collective suffocation, a sense that things just aren't right, and we as believers in Christ have a chance to experience God's hope through Christ personally and to transmit that hope to people who so desperately need it.   When we are downcast, we can turn to God, our source of hope.
I am encouraged by the words of 1st Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

A Rasmussen poll released earlier this week expresses generally what other surveys have found, as well - a majority of Americans think that our nation is on the wrong track - two-thirds of people, as a matter of fact.   I think that we are experiencing a sense of suffocation - many encounter it at the gas pump, as higher prices are becoming a way of life - up 7 cents in the past week alone.   There are those who are perhaps facing the loss of a job, or maybe have even seen the loss of a loved one or a friend recently.  

We have plenty of reasons to be disillusioned...the circumstances and pressures of this fallen world can, if we're not careful, suffocate us.   And, material possessions will not bring us lasting and authentic hope - the latest iPad, while a nifty device, can't bring the air we need for our souls.  We need to breathe - we need hope!

And, I think that's why we gravitate to people who are transformational figures, change agents, if you will - I believe that is why President Obama was elected almost 4 years ago...using the slogan, hope and change, he perhaps tapped into the fears of Americans.   And, this election cycle, I believe that people who are bringing a message of hope, sometimes even infused with a Christian worldview perspective, are resonating with voters.  

And in the sports realm, we certainly find ourselves inspired by people who exemplify hope, including the gentleman who will be in Montgomery tonight, Tim Tebow.   He brought his team going nowhere - at 1-4, and led them to 7 wins in 8 games.   Not only does he demonstrate his faith, but he shows a determined and exuberant demeanor.   On the field and off, he has brought hope to so many people, and tonight he will help to bring hope to cancer patients and their families, appearing to benefit the CWFCA, which helps to provide some of the transportation and medical needs of the families of cancer patients - bringing hope in the midst of suffocation.

We need to breathe in God's goodness and consume God's truth, or else we will suffocate.   His presence brings hope to us, and makes us carriers of a bright hope to the world.