FINDING HOPE IN UNCERTAIN TIMES

Living Stones Series: First Published in All Around Old Bridge Publication – September 2025, Pastor Lloyd Pulley

We are living in a time of deep uncertainty. Political unrest, economic instability, wars and more wars, natural disasters, and the rise of division across communities can leave us feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or even hopeless. Add to that the disturbing increase in hostility toward people of faith – especially Christians around the world who face imprisonment, violence, and even death for their beliefs – and the weight can feel unbearable.

It’s no wonder many are asking: Where is hope to be found?

As a pastor, I believe that hope isn’t found by ignoring the reality of suffering, but by facing it honestly. Two thousand years ago, Jesus prepared His followers with these words: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Those words still ring true today. They acknowledge the brokenness of our world while pointing us toward a greater reality – that evil, injustice, and despair do not have the final word.

History shows that when life is darkest, people often rediscover the strength that faith can bring: courage to endure, compassion to serve others, and confidence that there is meaning beyond the chaos. The Church, at its best, rises in times like these not with fear but with love – feeding the hungry, comforting the hurting, and offering light in the shadows.

Whether you consider yourself religious or not, there is an invitation here. Hope is not naïve optimism; it is a steady anchor that looks beyond today’s turmoil. For Christians, that anchor is Christ, who promises peace, purpose, and a future.

And perhaps that is what our world needs most – people who live not paralyzed by despair, but strengthened by hope.