Feels like Christmas - HOPE
Hopelessness is the FEELING that things are not good, and the FEAR that theyâre never going to get better.
Matthew 2:1-2 ESV Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, âWhere is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.â
Luke 2:1-2 ESV In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
Despair is the deep sadness that comes from taking a sober look at the whole situation, and seeing no way out.
Hopelessness is the feeling that something is impossible, beyond hope, with no chance of success, useless, no-win, futile, unworkable, impracticable, forlorn, pointless.
Hopelessness is a QUESTION. Despair is a CONFIRMATION. Hopelessness is EMOTIONAL. Despair is PALPABLE.
Despair is when someone still hopes for a desired outcome, but doesn't feel hopeful that it will happen. Hopelessness is when someone no longer hopes for an outcome and has stopped trying to get it
Luke 2:22-35 - 22 ESV And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, âEvery male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lordâ) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, âa pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.â 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,
Hopelessness can become a POLLUTANT to our environment.
Often, we have no real reason to have the hope that is within us because itâs indefinable--UNTIL IT ISNâT.
Hope is not a STRATEGY, but it is a CHOICE.
Sometimes we have to see life and circumstance through a NEW LENS.
Luke 2:28-33 ESV
28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 âLord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.â
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, âBehold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.â
1 Timothy 1:1 ESV - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope
Hopelessness is the FEELING that things are not good, and the FEAR that theyâre never going to get better.
Matthew 2:1-2 ESV Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, âWhere is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.â
Luke 2:1-2 ESV In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
Despair is the deep sadness that comes from taking a sober look at the whole situation, and seeing no way out.
Hopelessness is the feeling that something is impossible, beyond hope, with no chance of success, useless, no-win, futile, unworkable, impracticable, forlorn, pointless.
Hopelessness is a QUESTION. Despair is a CONFIRMATION. Hopelessness is EMOTIONAL. Despair is PALPABLE.
Despair is when someone still hopes for a desired outcome, but doesn't feel hopeful that it will happen. Hopelessness is when someone no longer hopes for an outcome and has stopped trying to get it
Luke 2:22-35 - 22 ESV And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, âEvery male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lordâ) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, âa pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.â 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law,
Hopelessness can become a POLLUTANT to our environment.
Often, we have no real reason to have the hope that is within us because itâs indefinable--UNTIL IT ISNâT.
Hope is not a STRATEGY, but it is a CHOICE.
Sometimes we have to see life and circumstance through a NEW LENS.
Luke 2:28-33 ESV
28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 âLord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.â
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, âBehold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.â
1 Timothy 1:1 ESV - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 NLV - âOur Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father loves us. Through His loving-favor He gives us comfort and hope that lasts forever. 17 May He give your hearts comfort and strength to say and do every good thing.
Ephesians 4:4-6 ESV - There is one body and one Spiritâjust as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your callâ 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
We all have a story and it is necessary for us to SHARE that story of hope with OTHERS.
Sharing our own hope may be the very thing that IGNITES that spark in ANOTHER person.
The cycle of despair can CRUSH us but the cycle of hope can RESTORE us.
We all have a story and it is necessary for us to SHARE that story of hope with OTHERS.
Sharing our own hope may be the very thing that IGNITES that spark in ANOTHER person.
The cycle of despair can CRUSH us but the cycle of hope can RESTORE us.