Hope for Change

It always slightly irritates me when people make a joke of New Year’s resolutions. Of course, I understand that a lot of people make resolutions that don’t make it past January. Maybe those resolutions don’t even last a week. Yes, that may be a cause to laugh. But still, there is something beautiful about a new year and resolutions. There is something beautiful about being reminded that change is possible.

Too many people think our world, our society, our government, our nation, etc. is doomed. So many people, myself included, sometimes think that our world is the way it is and we’re just waiting around for God to do something, for the world to end, or for both. Well that doesn’t really paint an image of hope, does it?

But the new year—2017—should be a symbol of hope and a reminder that change is possible.

Hope has to be acted on.

            It drives me nuts when people hope for change, but don’t do anything about it. If we believe in a better world, more kindness, and a brighter future, why aren’t we doing anything about it? Are you getting upset and impatient that God isn’t intervening in all this commotion in our world? Because He did intervene. He did do something. He made YOU. You can be someone that intervenes. You can be that something that makes a change and brings hope to our world. You can be someone that acts on hope and makes the world a better place, even if it is in the smallest of means.

We don’t get to be here long. We can’t predict the future. We can only live and act according to our hope for the future.

Make 2017 the year that you actually make a change—even if it’s a small one.

You know that plan you had to fix a broken relationship but never did? Do it.

You want to change something about yourself? Do it.

Do you see a huge need in a family you know? Help them out.

That mission trip you keep thinking God is calling you to, but you really aren’t sure so you don’t go? Go.

Do something this year. Hope for God to do big things this year. Hope for God to do big things through your life this year. In fact, EXPECT God to work this year.

Faith isn’t just believing or hoping…Faith is expecting. Have a little hope, have a little faith, and expect that 2017 is a year that your life can change, and a year that you can change someone else’s life.

We’ve been given hope for the future. We’ve been promised hope for the future. What better time than right now to start acting on that hope. Be strong, take heart, and do something because of the hope you believe in. 

“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

-Psalm 31:24

“Without watchful expectation on our part, what is the sense in waiting on God for help?” –Charles H. Spurgeon

Live your life like you expect something incredible to happen because of it. 

             Yes, maybe this is yet another post about change and the new year. But I'm not telling you to change. I'm not telling you to make a resolution and try to stick with it. I'm asking you to believe that change is possible. More than believe, I'm asking you to hope and expect that change is possible. If more people truly expected and believed that change was possible for the people and things we care about, maybe then more people would find it in themselves to start acting because of that hope.