HOPE: AN ANCHOR FOR LIFE

Romans 15:13 is a wonderful prayer that Paul wants every believer to experience: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

So far I haven’t come across anyone saying, “I’m not concerned about having joy and peace and I don’t want to abound in hope.” In fact, we all want and need these qualities, and yet among us very few can reasonably claim to be filled with joy, peace and hope.

Here I would like to limit this article only to the vitality and need of hope leaving joy and peace for a separate thought.

While many see faith and hope as synonyms but it is not. Faith is something that is built upon what one has seen or heard (faith comes by hearing) in the past but hope is an expectation of future realities. Without faith, there is no hope, and without hope there is no true faith.

A Poem on Hope

Amidst unceasing prayer hope unveiling answer
Amidst vagrancy, hope eternal nest
Amidst earthly glory, hope unending wonder
Amidst earthly misery, hope heavenly rest
Amidst poverty, hope unfading asset
Amidst earthly achievements, hope upcoming Best
Amidst widened arms of darkness, hope divine breast
Amidst fiery darts, hope Lord’s final behest
Amidst failing endeavours, hope Christ abreast
Amidst fellow charlatans, hope eternal test


Only then our “hope” in Return of Christ has any value for its quest

You can notice hope is used in verb form in every place. So hope not only for the return for Christ in the future but also for every facet of your life now, here, on the earth. Hope for everything else, basically, emerges from the hope in Christ's Return. And due to the absence of this hope many seems to live a lukewarm dispirited Christians life (nominals). This hope gives us purpose to strive for the purity and assurance of future life. A Christian can still profess him/herself and be called Christian while having no hope for anything similar to non-believers. Our eternal life will not start in the future but has already began with new birth in Christ.

Every mankind has hope of some sort. However, hope in human agency is the product of human mind but the hope in divine is product of divine enablement (through Holy Spirit). That’s why people who lack Holy Spirit also lack this hope. While they may have the ultimate hope of Christ’s coming (everyone has that) but may lose hoping for everything else, significantly, things pertinent for present life.

“…so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Such hope doesn’t come from nowhere but is given by the power of the Holy Spirit. So yielding to Holy Spirit is the key for receiving/growing in the hope.

THUS HOPE IS AN ANCHOR FOR OUR LIFE IN CHRIST AS WE LIVE ON THIS EARTH WITH HUMAN WEAKNESSES. 

◄ 1 John 3:3 ►And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.◄ Romans 8:24 ►For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? 

Outcomes of Hope

(1) It gives us joy and peace.

Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 5:2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

(2) It gives us protection.

Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness.

(3) It gives us strength, courage, boldness.

Psalm 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD.

(4) It gives us endurance, comfort, confidence in the face of death.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope.

(5) It gives us confidence in ministry.

1 Timothy 4:10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

Image Source: http://circleofdocs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/hope-hero.jpg

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BLUE WHALE & SUICIDE

Suicide is a problem that contradicts the natural instinct of survival. The French philospher, Albert Camus, said that the greatest problem of philosophy is the question, “Why I don’t commit suicide?” It also, in a way, explains why people would commit suicide if they lack the reason for not doing that. Nikhil Raj Gupta investigates this issue in light of some recent events. Check out for more.                                                                                     Domenic Marbaniang 

Yesterday a Mumbai boy committing suicide brought huge online suicidal game scandal in the limelight. And now the man behind the game (blue whale), as they call it curator, from Russia is behind the bars only for three years term. The term "Blue Whale" comes from the phenomenon of beached whales, which is linked to suicide. Philipp Budeikin, a former psychology student who was expelled from his university, claimed that he designed the game. Budeikin stated that his purpose was to "clean" the society by pushing to suicide those he deemed as having no value (cleaning biological waste, as one article mentioned).

It is said that game is the cause for almost 130+ suicidal deaths across globe. Most of which are teenagers. Game is not available at App Store of any operating system but secretly distributed in links among the members of the suicidal groups. It begins with warning. One, if starts the game play can’t stop it at any cost as the operators have the details of the player. They threaten to follow them aftermath. They pose the series of challenges (50 to be precise) which has to be completed in 50 days, includes carving whales and other marks on their body with razer, sitting in the heighted building dangling their legs downwards, killing pets, watching gory clips (sent by curator), ending the game with final challenge that demands the player to kill themselves to be the winner.  

While it sounds quite adventurous to hard-core gamers like me, it holds potential to damage the lives permanently and only children or insane will move to play. Interestingly enough their preys are mostly teenagers who were registered in suicidal groups. They don’t respond to people searching them instead they choose the target and pose the challenge.

UNDERSTANDING SUICIDE 

Once I too went to take my life and thought it had a genuine cause behind. To some it may sound foolish and undesirable but ironically suicide attempts are apparently common these days and more importantly those who struggle with such moods are in real life problems. Before we laugh at them as onlookers we must understand such tendencies and its causes. It’s important to understand the concept and causes suicide.

In the month of June Hindustan Times reported that every hour, one student commits suicide in India. India has one of the world’s highest suicide rates for youth aged 15 to 29, according to a 2012 Lancet report, which illustrated the need for urgent interventions. About 800000 people commit suicide worldwide every year, of these 135,000 (17%) are residents of India, a nation with 17.5% of world population. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, taking the lives of approximately 43,000 Americans each year.

MAJOR CAUSES

Causes for increased suicide risk

Many elements contribute the risk for suicide. These factors are separated into three categories: biopsychosocial, environmental, and sociocultural.

Biopsychosocial

Biopsychosocial causes account for most suicides and attempted suicides. These causes include mental health disorders such as:

• depression

• bipolar disorder

• schizophrenia

• anxiety disorders

• personality disorders

• bodily abuse

• childhood abuse or trauma

• family history of suicide

• previous suicide attempts

• having a chronic disease

Environmental

Environmental elements that increase the risk for suicide often occur due to a stressful life event. 

• social loss, such as the loss of a significant relationship or job

• access to lethal means, including firearms and drugs

• being exposed to suicide

• being a victim of harassment, bullying, or physical abuse

Sociocultural

One of the main sociocultural causes of suicide is the feeling of being isolated or the feeling of being deserted by other. Feelings of isolation can be caused by sexual orientation, religious beliefs (guilt), and gender identity. 

• The Deep Feeling of hopelessness and meaninglessness.

 SYMPTOMS OF SUICIDE

Here is some information from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

• Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves

• Looking for a way to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun

• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live

• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain

• Talking about being a burden to others

• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs

• Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly

• Sleeping too little or too much

• Withdrawing or isolating themselves

• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge

• Extreme mood swings

If you or someone you know exhibits any of these signs, seek help as soon as possible.

HELPING SUICIDAL 

• stay calm and speak in a reassuring tone

• acknowledge that their feelings are legitimate

• offer support and encouragement

• reassure them that suicidal feelings are temporary

• tell them that help is available and that they can feel better with treatment

While it’s not easy to diagnose or help someone suffering suicidal feelings its important to keep a sharp eye on people around you to help them when you notice any of these symptoms with proper approach.  

BIBLE AND SUICIDAL 

• Don’t be ruled by fear.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Is. 41:10)

• You are not alone. 

God gives hope and deliverance.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Ps. 34:18-19)

• God loves you and is with you forever. 

He will sustain us through our greatest burdens.

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” (Ps. 55:22)

• You are not condemned. 

God gives freedom and peace.

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Rom. 8:1-2)

• There’s acceptance in Christ.

”Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (Romans 15:7)

• There’s best identity in Christ.

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12)

• God is greater than any problem you are into.

God gives help and strength. He can solve any and every problem.

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

• God has a better plan for you 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11). 

Remember, suicide was never a solution and will never be!!!

Find more about depression and suicide here: 

 http://nikhilrajgupta.blogspot.in/2017/07/depression-suicide.html

Image: https://avidosguy.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/46153-suicide.jpg

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