1-19-15<\/p>\n
Words matter. They matter to me, as a writer; they matter to me when I teach and mentor; they mattered to me as a father around the dinner table, correcting my kids when they would say \u201cquote\u201d instead of \u201cquotation,\u201d or \u201cmay\u201d when they meant \u201cmight.\u201d Yes, they did roll their eyes, continually (NOT continuously)\u2026 but in later years have thanked me for instilling rules of grammar. My son is a TV news writer and producer, so his skills were honed.<\/p>\n
Words matter to God Almighty too. The Holy Bible is His written Word. He WROTE the 10 Commandments. And \u201cin the beginning was the Word, and the was with God, and the Word was God.\u201d These are the very first WORDS of the Gospel of John, and as we soon learn in verse 14, the pre-incarnate Jesus was the Word through which the worlds were called into creation: \u201cThe Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.\u201d<\/p>\n
I generally am not a fan of bumper-strip theology or slogans, but they have their place; sometimes a very good place, if people can grasp truth in a phrase or sentence. So I value words highly, yet realize they must be respected. Over-simplification can be as dangerous as contumelious obfuscation. (See? I mean mean-spirited confusion.)<\/p>\n
In that spirit of caution, I venture to make good on the promise of this essay\u2019s title, a guaranteed cure for the hopeless. A little play on words \u2013 but not a game. Thinking about the words, and considering what they mean, can lead to new ways of thinking about a lot of other words\u2026 and attitudes\u2026 and directions in your life. Stick with me:<\/p>\n
Hopeless. We have all experienced this emotion, whether a fleeting mood or a profound form of grief. But try to act on this: when you are hopeless \u2013 when you hope less \u2013 resolve to HOPE MORE. Easily said, right? Yes, it is. And usually hard to do. At first. But we can hope, always. There is always that better place. Faith, after all, is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1); that\u2019s what faith is.<\/p>\n
I once had a friend in a men\u2019s Bible study years ago who was having the worst luck, as we call it, in his career, financial situation, family security. Disappointment followed disappointment, and his news was always bad or worse. Finally he passed some hurdles in a job search, and everything seemed sure for him. On an appointed Saturday morning we waited for his arrival so we could hear the good news. He reported that at the very last moment the whole thing fell through, and he was back at the starting-line. We all felt like crying; a few of us did weep for him. But he was virtually cheery. How could this be, we asked. He replied, \u201cFor a few weeks there, I experienced hope. Sure I\u2019m disappointed, but it was so sweet to experience that joyful hope the Lord granted me!\u201d<\/p>\n
A superhuman faith, I thought. But he let Hope-less turn into Hope-more and it soothed his soul.<\/p>\n
Once you think of similar word-surgeries it can change your attitude in uncountable ways \u2013 maybe throughout life, not only in a current crisis:<\/p>\n
Thankless? Turn it into \u201cThankful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Does \u201cSorrowful\u201d describe your mood? Trade it in for \u201cJoyful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Are you prone to Counteract? Try to Interact.<\/p>\n
A buzz-word is \u201cmaladjusted.\u201d Tell it to buzz off, and choose to be well-adjusted.<\/p>\n
Are you fearful? Remember that Jesus said \u201cFear not\u201d dozens of times. Fearless you will become.<\/p>\n
Is your habit to be tasteless? Be tasteful. Do you always ask, \u201cWhy me?\u201d Emphasize correctly when you think how God loves you: \u201cWhy\u2026 ME!\u201d Do you worry that your boss or friends think you are a \u201cgood-for-nothing\u201d? Be good for something!<\/p>\n
Being friendly will transform being friendless into being a friend and having friends\u2026 and having the most important Friend. <\/p>\n
Romans 8:25 explains, \u201chope that is seen is not hope. Who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.\u201d Hopeless no more, an attitude of hope \u2013 the foundation-stone of faith \u2013 can change your life. <\/p>\n
My Word! <\/p>\n
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Our music video answers a question that some hopeless-feeling readers might ask, \u201chow can I turn things around so easily?\u201d Well, on our own, it CAN be difficult. But God sent the Holy Spirit to be our guide, to instruct us, encourage, grant us supernatural portions of wisdom, knowledge, strength, faith\u2026 and hope. Here, the Forbes Family sings a gospel song written just more than 100 years ago by George A Young. Young was an obscure preacher living in poverty. Also a carpenter, he built a modest house for himself and his wife, which village thugs burned down when once he was away preaching. Not trained as a poet or musician, nevertheless he wrote this song in response to his devastating situation:<\/p>\n