“Is there any HOPE?” That’s what parents wonder when the doctor says, “There’s been an accident, and your son’s condition is uncertain.”

Is there any HOPE for the couple that winds up at the same dead end of unresolved conflict again and again and worry that they might not make it?

Where is the HOPE for the single mom who works a full-time job by day, serves as both mom and dad by night and wonders “how long can I keep this up?”

Where is the HOPE for the person who battles depression and anxiety?

Where is the HOPE for the man or woman who stands by a partner’s bedside as their life ebbs away?

Where is the HOPE for the person who has been laid off and who doesn’t see a good job lead in site as the bills pile up?

Where is the HOPE for a generation of young people who seem to be an easy mark for drugs, sexually transmitted diseases, and the pain of a broken family?

With these kinds of concerns, HOPING that our team or political candidate wins does not seem quite so important. Where is HOPE to be found? What reason is there to HOPE?

The claim of the Christian faith is that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is our ultimate reason to HOPE. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3) NIV

These words were recorded by Peter – the one who had denied knowing Christ. A man most likely to self-destruct found hope through the power of a relationship with the risen Christ. The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is available to those who follow Him as Savior and Lord

“…and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 1:19-20) NIV

Much of life is unmanageable and we don’t know what future holds. Even though something is out of my control, it is not out of God’s control. Hope is not always about changing what’s going on around us but changing what’s going on in us. Put your hope in a God who has demonstrated the ability to bring life from death, victory from defeat, and hope from despair.