How Do We Find Hope in a World of Chaos?

Photo by cottonbro studio

Over the last several years, I’ve had numerous conversations with friends where we’ve talked about the stuff happening around the world and asked, “How do people who don’t know the LORD survive and keep going? Because I don’t even know how I would function without the hope of heaven.”

It’s easy to feel like the whole world is going to hell in a handbasket and for us to wonder what the point is of striving to speak the truth when the world doesn’t seem to care. But the fact of the matter is that this world is in chaos because people don’t know the truth. They are lost. They have no hope for their future or anyone else’s, and ever purpose they have sought to hold onto or find confidence in eventually disintegrates into one more fortress of shifting sand.

To them there is no: security in life beyond money (Mat 6:25-30), true redemption for their failures (Col 1:13-14), Advocate willing no-matter-what to speak for them (1Jo 2:1), confidence in life-after-death (Joh 3:16-17; Luk 23:43), loving-adoptive Father waiting with open arms for them to accept Him (Eph 1:3-5), place in a bigger plan (Mat 28:19-20), or all-powerful King able to end death and defeat Satan (Rev 21:4)(Rev 20:10). 

Whereas, we carry the hope of all of this inside us.

“…always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…” ~1Peter 3:15~

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.” ~2 Thessalonians 2:16~

“…hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ~Romans 5:5-8~

“…as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name…”  ~John 1:12~

“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of…your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ… you became examples to all…who believe… Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare…how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” ~1Thessalonians 1:2~

Sometimes, I think we look at the headlines and fear that a war might come, while meanwhile forgetting that a spiritual war is already upon us. The chaos and pain of physical bullets and bombs are horrendous, but they are no more horrendous and destructive than that of the spiritual bullets and bombs that are already hitting all around us. They are less loud but no less brutal. And the evidence of their impact is there if we choose to see it: broken homes, suicidal kids, abused spouses, molested children, abortion, despair, substance abuse, anxiety, etc. 

Challenge: Are you running to help your neighbors when their lives and homes are blown to pieces? Are you ready to give an answer to the hope that is in you while facing the war that is already here?

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