Have you ever been away on holiday or had a day out? When did the journey begin? The night before when you packed your bag? Early in the morning when you locked the front door? Or when your plane finally took off at the end of the runway?

OR did it begin months before that, with an idea that just might be possible!

‘Hope’ happened.

Hope is really important; it changes our perspective of a possible future. I’m not talking about empty hope… high hopes, wishful thinking, optimism or luck. That is a hope based on uncertainty and it will rarely take you on holiday!

A few years ago I was involved in a conversation with a couple of agencies working in Chelmsford with people facing very challenging circumstances; homelessness, addiction and mental health issues. I asked, “What do you see in the lives of those you work with which possibly contributes to their problems?”

“Hopelessness,” they answered.

What if there was a ‘hope’ based on something certain, something real… or to be more specific, someone real?

Did you know that there is a God? There is. He is good and he is for you. You may not have ever considered him before, or you may only be aware of what others have said about him. His desire is to connect with you. To become friends and restore hope in your life. That’s it. He doesn’t want to add to your problems, control you or tell you what to do. He is here with you now as you read this, and his only interest is to pour his hope, love and acceptance into you. He has already made his mind up about you—He loves you and he wants you to live!

Jesus, God’s Son, said of Himself in the bible, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (‭‭John‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

This is really good news; it means that for you, right now, Jesus has direction, solutions and the certainty of life now and forever. We all need real ‘hope’ and it’s only found in and through the person of Jesus Christ. The bible says of this ‘hope’ that it is like “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6:19‬). But this is not a lifeless ship’s anchor—this anchor is a person. The Christian faith is based on relationship with God—the best of friendships, possibilities and life now and forevermore!

To find out more about ‘hope’ and the amazing lengths God has gone through to demonstrate his love for us and how we can start a personal friendship with him, please get in touch with us at NACC; specifically Pete Bardwell (Oasis Church) or Maria Lee (URC). We’d love to hear from you.