A Stone of Hope
By Justin March

“Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Does it feel like the world is throwing everything at us at once?  Rising
COVID infections, underwater volcanoes, wintry weather, strained relationships,
labor shortages, inflation, and political strife continue to infiltrate every
news outlet.  The negativity demands our attention, and the darkness seems
to engulf our lives.  And as tensions become high, anger escalates, and
people divide themselves because of their differences, this “mountain of
despair” becomes difficult to overcome.

I was struggling to find a positive message to send out this week until I ran
across this quote.  I was reminded that my perspective was out of whack,
and I had allowed the world’s messages to overshadow the messages that God was
trying to send me.  You see, the world is pleased when the despair it
preaches causes us to feel drained and weary.  It is happy when we live in
confusion, blindness, and fear.  And it feeds off our losses and revels in
our pain.  If we allow it, the negative news will take hold of everything
we are, and before we know it, we are at the bottom of a dark pit wondering how
we will ever get to the top of this “mountain of despair.”

It is in these times that we need to pick up those “stones of
hope.”  They are not always easy to see amongst the hype and
distractions the world throws our way, but they are there.  They can be
found in the messages of your Bible.  They can be found when you have a
loving conversation with your family and friends.  They can be found when
you help someone in need or donate your time and money to organizations that
benefit the less fortunate.  They can be found in the pews of your church,
the words of the hymns, and the sermons you hear.  And they can be found
in the whispers of the wind, the spirits of the air, and the nature God has
created for you.  The world will do it’s best to keep you blind, but if
you open your eyes and soften your heart, these “stones of hope” will
be there for the taking.

I pray you find some “stones of hope” this week.  I pray that
you are open to what God is trying to show you, and that He brings you comfort
and peace.  I pray that no matter the obstacle, failure, or defeat you
face, you remember that you are loved and forgiven.  And when that
“mountain of despair” casts a shadow over your path this week, I pray
that you pick up one of those “stones of hope” and allow the light of
Christ to guide you to better days.  Stay positive, stand strong, extend
grace, and love one another.  You never know, you may be that “stone
of hope” that another needs to lead them into His loving arms!