Romans 5:5 “Now 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.” 

Today, people need to be encouraged. The challenges of life have imprisoned many and as a result, they either engage in taking desperate measures for survival or giving up altogether. When no relief is in sight, you brace yourself for the next crisis to occur. According to The Suicide Data and Statistics from 2020, 45,979 people died of suicide, which is one death every 11 minutes, 12.2 million adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.2 million adults made plans, and 1.2 million adults attempted suicide. These are adults and do not include children! Fortunately, there are several organizations and institutions organized to address this critical issue. Some employ methods requiring medication to control the urges of those who are suicidal. Conversely, some individuals choose suicide by police interaction, where the individual will place himself in a threatening situation where deadly force becomes necessary to neutralize the threat. What many do not realize is that most of the treatments are temporary, for when the pressure returns or resurfaces in a different form, the individual is right back where they started. 

Hopelessness imprisons the soul which contains the mind, the will, and the emotions. The person may be relieved on furlough, but eventually will have to report back to the duties of reality. The problem must be addressed at its root, when lovelessness, or the lack of security that exists in true love, is at the core. When the security is attached to a fragile object of affection, the disappointments experienced from failing to meet the person’s expectations will produce a downward spiral of emotions from which some never recover.  A broken heart, a failed relationship, or rejection in many forms appear to minimize the person’s value. Additionally, how that person is seen through the eyes of others may cause them to devalue their own worth or to become so emotionally callous that nothing in life matters. Sustaining and hope-inspiring love cannot be found in a person, but it may work through a person. God is the source of love, and although He is defined by many qualities, His primary attribute is love. Love is not just what He does, but it is who He is.  

It is imperative to not be anchored to the person, but trust in the Lord who works through the person. God promises that He will never disappoint us as people often do. Paul remarked, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Choosing to follow Jesus leads us to a glorious future and a hope that will never let you down. It is a contagious hope, and for those who possess it, they will become the instruments in His hands to distribute this hope to a hopeless generation.