thoughts from the trail

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by: Steve Fawcett

03/14/2024

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  Hopelessness is one of the almost unspoken plagues of our day.   Do you matter?  Yes, you do.  You matter more than you realize.  You matter to your families, your friends; and above all, no matter where you go, no matter how young or old, no matter how healthy or unhealthy, no matter how productive or if you feel unproductive, you matter to God.   For God has not forgotten about you.  He sees you. He even knows your very thoughts better than you do.     Jer. 29:11    So, don’t give up hope.  You may be in a dark place, but that too will pass.    Don’t give up hope. 

  The gospel of Jesus has always been a message of hope. But as that message gets canceled, censored, even snarled at today, hopelessness has increased.  The message of atheism has always been a message of personal hopelessness.  So, it is not surprising to see the rise of anxiety, despair and hopelessness in our society.

     Without going into all kinds of details, let me provide some simple ideas on how you can encourage someone and revive their hope.

  1. Visit them.  People need to know that someone cares. Take a walk together, visit in a coffee shop, a park.

  2. Call them.           A timely call can be lifesaving.        Just pay attention to them and listen.

  3. Ask questions.          How are you feeling these days?          How are you sleeping?  

  4. Send them a passage from scripture or an uplifting note.        By email, text, letter, calligraphy, needlepoint!

  5. Make sure they have some uplifting music to listen to.         Music can do wonders to lift the spirit.

  6. Write a letter and send it by snail mail.          In this age of emails, an actual letter can be a treat.

  7. Pray for them, on the phone, in person.           

  8. Share a meal with them.       Hospitality counts.  

  9. Take a walk.     I mean people tell me to ‘take a hike’ all the time and I just say ‘thank you’, I look forward to that!  But being out in fresh air, getting some exercise, being out in God’s creation, can do wonders for your mood.

  10. Learn to take a sabbath.  Not just a day off but a day to being refreshed spiritually.  

  11. Do something fun.    What would they enjoy?  People who are depressed and discouraged tend to turn inward and to isolate themselves; we all need various amounts of community.

  12. Get help.       Know when you are over your head.  

   Jesus said in Jn. 16:33:’ I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.’

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  Hopelessness is one of the almost unspoken plagues of our day.   Do you matter?  Yes, you do.  You matter more than you realize.  You matter to your families, your friends; and above all, no matter where you go, no matter how young or old, no matter how healthy or unhealthy, no matter how productive or if you feel unproductive, you matter to God.   For God has not forgotten about you.  He sees you. He even knows your very thoughts better than you do.     Jer. 29:11    So, don’t give up hope.  You may be in a dark place, but that too will pass.    Don’t give up hope. 

  The gospel of Jesus has always been a message of hope. But as that message gets canceled, censored, even snarled at today, hopelessness has increased.  The message of atheism has always been a message of personal hopelessness.  So, it is not surprising to see the rise of anxiety, despair and hopelessness in our society.

     Without going into all kinds of details, let me provide some simple ideas on how you can encourage someone and revive their hope.

  1. Visit them.  People need to know that someone cares. Take a walk together, visit in a coffee shop, a park.

  2. Call them.           A timely call can be lifesaving.        Just pay attention to them and listen.

  3. Ask questions.          How are you feeling these days?          How are you sleeping?  

  4. Send them a passage from scripture or an uplifting note.        By email, text, letter, calligraphy, needlepoint!

  5. Make sure they have some uplifting music to listen to.         Music can do wonders to lift the spirit.

  6. Write a letter and send it by snail mail.          In this age of emails, an actual letter can be a treat.

  7. Pray for them, on the phone, in person.           

  8. Share a meal with them.       Hospitality counts.  

  9. Take a walk.     I mean people tell me to ‘take a hike’ all the time and I just say ‘thank you’, I look forward to that!  But being out in fresh air, getting some exercise, being out in God’s creation, can do wonders for your mood.

  10. Learn to take a sabbath.  Not just a day off but a day to being refreshed spiritually.  

  11. Do something fun.    What would they enjoy?  People who are depressed and discouraged tend to turn inward and to isolate themselves; we all need various amounts of community.

  12. Get help.       Know when you are over your head.  

   Jesus said in Jn. 16:33:’ I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.’

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