Hope Dispensers


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

Proverbs 13:12 


I don’t know about you but I miss my childhood when I got to go shopping with my mom and coming to that big long row of candy dispensers just inside the doors of the store. Believe it or not, but back in the day when I was a kid you could get a stomach ache on less than 25 cents. You definitely could get more candy than you could eat at one time. Ok, let’s say should eat at one time. It might be hard to believe but it’s true. There were even penny candy dispensers that gave out almost as much candy as you might get in a whole box of candy today, and for a lot more money.  

With the coronavirus infecting more Americans and the death toll expected to rise this coming week, if there was ever a time that our world could use some hope, its today. It’s been well said, “A man can go six weeks without food, six days without water, six minutes without oxygen. But a man can’t go six seconds without hope.” Over and over again throughout the Bible we are exhorted to place our hope in God and for good reason. God is a hope dispenser and He is calling you and me to be hope dispensers too! Just as the coronavirus is contagious so are faith, hope and love!

Yes, loved one, there is no shortage of despair in the world today but just as true there is no shortage of opportunity to become a hope dispenser and show the love of Jesus to anxious and hurting people. What a joy it is to be able remind people that those who place their hope in God will not be disappointed. The psalmist declared in Psalm 130:5, “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope”  Are you aware God’s Word is a hope dispenser? It is! The pages of our bible’s are packed full of stories of hope. Often times when it appears as if all hope is lost God comes to the rescue. He’s done it for me and He has done it for you!  

Psalm 146:5 reminds us, “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God.”  The happiest people in the world today are those who have placed their hope in God. The Bible exhorts us in Psalm 31:24, “Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.” Did you catch that? Hoping in Jesus actually strengthens our heart and gives us courage even in life’s biggest trials. If you or someone you know needs hope today, point them to Jesus Christ our hope dispenser, as well as to His Word, and prayer. It’s there in His presence and in His Word and in prayer where the believer finds hope. Remember,

God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love!


“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” 

Isaiah 26:3


I LOVE YOU!