Faith, Hope, and Love will last forever!

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 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.                          (I Corinthians 13:13 ESV)

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iven all the trials and tribulations of our world in just the past year alone, many have given up on life.  Some feel that things are too far gone, so why bother to go on? They may not realize what Jesus meant when He said in Matthew 11:28 (ESV): “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  

According to an article in The Washington Post, published November 23, 2020, since the coronavirus arrived, depression and anxiety in America have become rampant.  Federal surveys show that 40 percent of Americans are now grappling with at least one mental health or drug-related problem.  But young adults have been hit harder than any other age group, with 75 percent struggling.  Even more alarming, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently asked young adults if they had thought about killing themselves in the past 30 days, one in four said they had.  

This is really sad that so many feel they have nowhere to turn as a result of this pandemic, and life no longer has meaning for them.  Therefore, as believers who are holding on, we have our work cut out for us.  We must reach out to those who are suffering and feel that life is all over for them.  Further, we must be strong in our witnessing because we are not going to easily convince those who have given up that things will get better.  

What can we do to convince those who have given up that it is going to be all right? It is our Christian duty to reach out to our fellow man when he is in need.  Remember that the Word says in I John 3:16 (ESV), “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”   

First of all, be there for them to have someone to talk to.  

Let them talk, and you listen more!  Help them reach out to agencies, if needed, and encourage them not to be ashamed to ask for help. What may help tremendously is to share a personal story with them that will show you were once in need and the steps you had to take to see a better day. Further, the story can be about someone else that you know, but please don’t share the name.  

Then, by all means, share and explain Scriptures with them that will guide them to a better understanding that faith, hope, and love will always be an anchor as the will to go on, regardless of their circumstances.

Have a wonderfully blessed week, be thankful in all circumstances, and never leave home without Him!

(Anna Bright is a minister and educator in Walterboro. She can be reached at abrightcolumn@lowcountry.com)