What brings me hope
Justice and change
By Rosalind Tompkins
Special to the Outlook
With so much going on in the world, we all could use a little hope especially after yet another massacre at the hands of a lone gunman in Buffalo, New York. It is absolutely heartbreaking to hear the stories and see the tears of those whose loved ones were gunned down as they went to the store to shop. This is something that we do every day and take for granted that it is safe to do so.
My and I were already fasting and praying for the Ukrainian people during the time of this atrocious war when internal enemies attacked not only in Buffalo but also at a church in California. The hate that is manifesting is downright depressing. Needless to say, it is particularly challenging to keep hope when there is murder and mayhem all around.
As difficult as it may be, hope is precisely what is needed now more than ever because hope reminds me of a beautiful yellow cactus flower that I saw while on my weekly walk. They were growing in a wooded area that was behind a fence. The flowers reminded me of how even in adverse circumstances we can bloom where we are planted. As we pray and have faith our hope blooms and encourages us to become the change in our spheres of influence and to help those that are going through and not turn a blind eye.
When we have hope, we mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice. And we never give up because we believe that change is possible. I’m reminded of the scripture found in Mark 11:22-23 that says, “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
We speak to all the mountains of war, racism, hatred, violence, and murder and say move in Jesus’ name and then we push with our prayers, faith, and action. We do what needs to be done and we keep blooming bright like the cactus flowers that I saw because the alternative state of hopelessness and inactivity is not an option. People moving towards justice and change to make things better bring me hope. For more information about keeping hope in trying times please visit www.practiceofhopeology.com.
Rosalind Tompkins, Ph.D. is author of “As Long As There Is Breath In Your Body, There Is Still Hope,” and other inspirational books. Tompkins is also founder of Turning Point International Church, the Chapel of Mothers In Crisis. She’s also founder of Turning Point International Alliance with ministries and churches in Pakistan, Nepal, Eswatini, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, and St. Vincent in the West Indies.
