Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about hope; what it means to have hope, to lose hope, to give hope and how love guides us in our desire to give hope to others.
Here at OIM, staff and volunteers have been called to come alongside those who call the streets home. We have answered God’s call to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need. We provide food, clothing, a listening ear, practical help, conversation, and a welcoming, safe space. We provide a sense of community and belonging to those who are daily ignored, looked down upon and judged.
Through our door service, street outreach, special holiday meals, summer BBQs, or any of our other programs, we are demonstrating the love of Jesus. It is both a privilege and a blessing, to be able to lift our street friends up in prayer, knowing that our Great God created us all in His image, that He cares for us and that we matter to Him.
We have this promise of hope in Psalm 62:5, “Find rest O my soul, in God alone: my hope comes from Him.” Psalm 147:11 tells us, “The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.” 1 Corinthians 13:7 tells us this about love, “it always protects, always trusts, always perseveres...” As Christ followers, we trust and are secure in the knowledge that God loves us. We persevere in prayer because we trust that every whisper of our hearts is heard by Him because He has a plan for each of us and we trust that He will never leave nor forsake us (Joshua 1:5).
May we never lose hope, may we always show the love of Jesus to those in need, because we know and are assured of His great love for us.
~Debby Palmer, Youth Program Assistant
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