Is Hope dead?

Let's call it out right now...we don't always have the feeling of hope.  There are things in this world that we think are hopeless to hope for and we get lost in the hurt and darkness around us.  Because there is much hurt and darkness and so it's easy to focus on if we lose sight of what Hope really is.  We ask ourselves "Is my Hope dead?"  I think we've all done it. Placed our hopes and dreams into countless hours of research, work, time, things we accumulate, and lots of effort.  Only to have it disappear on us in a small matter of time.  But as Kim Meeder (author of Fierce Beauty--great read!) puts it Is Hope just a feeling?

She continues on to say, Hope is a choice and an action.  

It's about picking up our sword of truth and destroying the darkness and lies around us by spreading the hope and truth of Jesus.  

It's a choice.  An action.  

Do I want to choose to let myself be swallowed up by darkness, lies and the hurt around me or will I choose to see that my hope is in Jesus (He promises to never leave me) and choose to follow Him and spread His love in whatever way we can....but it's a hard choice most of the time and takes a fierce warrior.  

Hurt is so rampant in our world today.  It affects everyone.  Whether you believe in God or not.  Rich or poor. Sick or healthy.  Each day can be filled with hurt or hope, but the choice is ours.  That is why Hope is more than a feeling it's an action...a battle...a choice.  

I'm not typing this to you because I have alot of hope.... rather I'm trying to push back the darkness and fears and lies and feelings of hopelessness and hurt when I'm not sure how to stand and fight all this darkness that the world is so good at handing out.  Hope is dying around us.  Stand up for the hope that lies deep in your heart.  Fight as God fought darkness by sending His son, Jesus, to die and shed His blood for us all so that we can have a place in Heaven with Him where there is no darkness...no hurts...no ugliness of the world....and where there is Hope forever.

I think that without Hope in Jesus we cannot truly love others, we can't have peace that passes all understanding, and we can't live a life of fully trusting Him.  

So how can you start reviving hope?  One choice at a time.  One action at a time.  Here's an example of what I mean in my life.  When I'm feeling like my life is going nowhere or even getting worse in various areas. I can chose to focus on acts of love that God has already poured on me in the past reminding me that I am so loved.  An action would be as simple as a prayer to my God for my broken heart to be mended by His love so I can truly shine for Him inside and out.