Devotions
We give hope to the hopeless
We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, … as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. – 2Corinthians 6:3-4; 10 (NKJV)
A Moment of Fear
Some years
ago, I travelled to South Africa with a colleague on a work-related trip. The
flight had been smooth, the weather was calm, and there seemed to be no reason
for concern. Then, without warning, we were struck by severe turbulence. It
happened so suddenly that the captain did not even have time to ask us to
fasten our seat belts.
The plane
shook violently and dropped in altitude. Objects flew through the cabin, some
flight attendants fell, and passengers were lifted from their seats. It was
terrifying. Everyone screamed, and, like in the story of Jonah, people began
calling on the name of their gods.
My
colleague, who was sitting beside me, grabbed my hand tightly and cried,
“Chantal, we are going to die!” Thankfully, the turbulence did not last long.
The captain later came on the intercom, apologized, and explained what had
happened.
Afterward,
I asked my colleague, “You are the man, why were you taking refuge in me? I am
the one who should have grabbed your hand and clung to you.” He looked at me
and replied, “What are you saying? You are a Christian. You cannot just die.
Your God is protecting you, so He is protecting me through you.”
I had
worked with this man for many years, and he had never shown much interest in my
faith. He did not even believe in being born again. Yet, in the face of danger,
he instinctively believed that, as a Christian, I carried hope and protection.
The
Hope People Expect from Believers
Although
the world may not always take Christianity seriously, many people still sense
that there is something different about true believers, those who reflect the
Father’s image, not merely those who practice religion outwardly. When trouble
comes, it is common to hear people say, “We are out of options now; please pray
for us. We need God to intervene.”
What does
that reveal? It shows that, deep down, they believe Christians have access to a
solution. Paul reminds us that we may appear poor, yet we make many rich; we
may seem to have nothing, yet we possess everything the world truly needs.
As
Christians, we must take this calling seriously and live up to the name we
carry. One of the greatest gifts the world expects from us is hope. People long
to find comfort, empathy, and encouragement among those who confess the name of
Christ. Even when they do not say it openly, they often hope to hear words that
remind them all will be well.
For that
reason, we cannot simply cry as the world cries, lose heart as the world loses
heart, or speak the same language of discouragement and despair. When we do,
people lose their compass, and the little hope they still have begins to
disappear. The same turbulence may hit us, but there should be a difference: we
carry the Living God within us.
We cannot
just die. We cannot simply succumb. We cannot allow ourselves to be overwhelmed
as though we have no source of strength.
Staying
Connected to the Source
Jesus said
that we are the light of the world. This means exactly what it says: the world
is in darkness, and if believers do not shine, darkness will continue to
spread. He also said that we are the salt of the earth. If Christians lose
their saltiness, how will the world be preserved?
Therefore,
we are called to guard our peace and keep our hope alive by remaining connected
to the source of both. The world needs peace and hope, but we can only give
what we have first received.
Jesus is
the vine, and we are the branches (John 15:5). Apart from Him, we can do
nothing. The moment we disconnect from Him, we begin to dry up spiritually. But
when we remain in Him, His life flows through us, and we are able to strengthen
others.
We can only give peace when we have peace, and we can only give hope when we have hope. Stay connected to Christ, the source of your strength, so that when others face fear, confusion, or despair, they may find hope through you.
Posted : Aug 17, 2026