Saturday Choose Hope

Today’s message was written by guest pastor, Rev. Hunter Camp.

Sometimes it can feel like we are at the end of our ropes. That we are dangling before a giant chasm whose bottom is covered in darkness. Hanging onto that dangling rope can feel like all our chances and choices are past. And though we may, at times, feel this way, there is always one final choice that never leaves our side. Hope.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” 

So much of life is comprised of what choices we make. Every time we are faced with a choice we are faced with the opportunity to choose what is important. There are few choices more important than hope. Without hope, we are like castaways on an island. In my work as a pastor, it has been my experience that hope is often the sole factor in whether people live or die, overcome major tragedies or wither under their shadows. Without hope, we cannot possibly live.

To choose hope is not always an easy choice. Sometimes it feels easiest to choose despair. I know this from my own life. Choice, not chance, determines hope. Living our faith means, among other things, to live as people who have hope that is unseen but believed.

To choose hope is, in effect, to choose life. To choose hope is to trust that however bad circumstances may be, God is by your side. God has your back. It all comes down to what’s most important to you. 

Let us pray: God of never-ending hope, may you inspire us to hang on to hope, to make the choice for hope, and to trust that you always have our back. In the name of Christ our brother, we pray. Amen.