Get Moving: How to Share Hope in the DarknessDanny Adams - 28 Jun 2017

“Tragedy and terrorism thrive on fear, and our greatest weapons against it are hope and grace.” 

The world feels rather bleak at the moment; with attacks being reported in cities across the world, from Manchester to Kabul. The Queen described the mood in the UK as ‘sombre’ in her Birthday speech two weeks ago; as various protests took place across London. 

In times like these, the enemy is happier when we’re being divisive on social media or when our neighbours are feeling afraid and hopeless - the enemy starts to worry when we’re on our knees praying for our leaders, and standing strong, sharing the Gospel of Hope and Grace with our community.

Even in the midst of the broken world we live in, the Church is on the move. 

Even when our news feeds are filled with negativity and hurt; Christians across the world have responded to tragedy with grace and peace. Prayer Vigils have motivated others into action.

The truth is that tragedy and terrorism thrive on fear, and our greatest weapons against it are hope and grace. As Christians, we understand this ultimately means Jesus: our hope, our prayer, our source of eternal life. 

It’s our responsibility as the Church to share the Good news when the world’s news is anything but. 

So how do get get moving?

1. turn to God

We’ve got to intercede for our world, but we also need to take our own pain to him. If we feel sorrow, God doesn’t expect us to hide it away in some deep part of our soul but rather to bring it to Him.
However you’ve been affected by the recent tragedies around the world, God cares about your pain and extends His hands to us:

  “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you" - Psalm 55:22

2. Ask the Spirit for Boldness

In Acts, Peter and John get back home from the Sanhedrin, where they were instructed not to preach in the name of Jesus any more. Their response? To cry out to God:

“ Now, LORD, Consider their threats and enable your servants to speak you word with Great Boldness” -  Acts 4:29

The Holy Spirit comes and fills them again; and they spoke the word of God boldly. Today, this gift is for us too; to ask for the Spirit’s guidance and wisdom to boldly share good news in our communities and across the world.

3. Love your neighbours

When the world is trying to navigate its way asking, “Is there really any hope?” or “Is there really any point?”  - the Church has the answer: one of love. Practically show God’s love to the people around you - this can be as simple as offering your neighbour a cup of tea; or even inviting a friend to Church with you.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you: and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:8

Whatever is going on in the world, fix your eyes on Jesus, and be a hope-bringer to the world. Irrespective of everything else, the Vision is Jesus.