PERSPECTIVE

give hope  - restore a child

Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”

Have you ever felt completely alone—that no one cares for you and no one shares your plight? That you are betrayed, disappointed and without any hope of overcoming your circumstances? Have you ever hoped for something but could see no way for your hope to be realized or come true? The feeling of hopelessness is debilitating; it makes one’s heart sick: the spirit is broken, one cannot think clearly, the brain cannot function effectively, and soon the body is overtaken by the absence of the will to try, to survive. And then we open God’s Word in search of hope and comfort and we read: “You number my wanderings, put my tears into your bottles; are they not in your book?” (Ps. 56:8).

God’s word is the only thing that gives us the assurance of hope. This is an enormous advantage over those who don’t know God.

So what does hope mean to a Christian—to a child of God? A desire for something with the possibility that it will happen? Does it mean to have an expectation for future good? God’s word is the only thing that gives us the assurance of hope. This is an enormous advantage over those who don’t know God.

God has chosen us and entrusted us to be His stewards and ambassadors of the hope we have in Jesus. Wherever people cherish hope and long for its fulfillment, men and women called by God to serve His people and provide help, are expected to lead people to a realization of their hopes.

Some of us have never had an encounter with poverty because we grew up in homes where our parents took care of our needs. Jesus’ last words were: “I will not leave you orphans…” But in this world there is a segment of humanity that is losing hope. These are innocent and vulnerable orphan children, 200 million of them, world-wide, who have lost their parents. To them, all that is left is hope. Six million children die every year due to hunger. Jesus said: “I was hungry…” These children represent Jesus Himself. There is not much for them out there except for their own determination to survive. Hope becomes tangible only when we provide for their needs.  An encounter with real poverty and a deeper understanding of the needs of those less fortunate is truly transforming.

“We are counseled that orphans are lent to Christians in trust for God.” They are a “sacred trust.” (Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 6, p. 281). “The Lord did tell Peter: “Feed My lambs.” By opening our homes and hearts to the orphans we share in the literal, material fulfillment of the words of Jesus (Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 6, p. 284).

“The Lord did tell Peter: “Feed My lambs.” By opening our homes and hearts to the orphans we share in the literal, material fulfillment of the words of Jesus

Testimonies to the Church, Vol. 6, p. 284

For this reason I gave up my secure job and life of comfort 15 years ago while battling cancer and committed my life to serving thousands of orphaned children. I comforted myself with the words of Jesus when He said, “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’” (Matt. 25:40, NKJV).

I know there is One who has promised these orphans hope. He is “Father of the fatherless…. But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish” (Ps. 9:18) God’s promises can be fulfilled only if we, as faithful stewards, will use the resources and talents He has entrusted to us, to be stewards of His hope “…Christ in you, the Hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). Only then will hope have meaning in the lives of the despairing.

“Hope is the anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…” (Heb. 6:18-19, KJV). Let’s share that kind of hope and throw a life-line for the 200 million hungry orphans in this world today. Give hope and restore a child today!

Norma Nashed
Norma Nashed is the founder and president of Restore a Child, a non-profit organization that serves more than 4,000 children in 15 countries. She runs the organization from her home. She was diagnosed with cancer 15 years ago, while working at the General Conference At that time she felt called by God to leave her job and dedicate her life to disadvantaged and orphaned children. Learn more about Restore a Child, its mission and projects at: www.restoreachild.org/

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