As America falls deeper into self-reliance and further from reliance on God, our need for genuine hope has never been greater. It’s been said that one of the greatest mission fields in the world today is the United States. This is largely due to the fact that awe and respect for the Lord have been forgotten. Unfortunately, many are placing hope in Wall Street, or the government, but this only leads to desperation and despair. So how can we find genuine hope?

1. Embrace Acts 3:19; Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Genuine hope occurs when there is a strong conviction of sin and sincere repentance. Repentance is not an outdated, irrelevant word; it’s a positive word from the heart of God. Jesus, as well as John the Baptist, both began their ministry by proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2; 4:17). A penitent person sees sin as God sees it and turns from it. They do not want to continue in hurtful or harmful behavior. They accept full responsibility for their actions. Repentance often eliminates depression. The danger comes when arrogance and a hardness of heart, as we often see today, prevents us from turning to God. Lasting hope and joy are by-products of a right relationship with God—beginning with “repentance.”

2. Declare the whole counsel of God’s word. I’m extremely grateful for all the Christian leaders who have influenced me, many in the Antelope Valley; there is, however, a very troubling trend in the evangelical church as a whole. Foundational doctrines such as the cross, sin, judgment, and repentance, were declared openly in the early hours of American history—when revivals and awakenings spread across our landscape. Today, these foundational truths have been neglected, watered-down, or avoided altogether in the hope of “not offending,” “securing an audience,” or being “user-friendly.” I recently heard of a church that removed the cross from the sanctuary as not to offend, and a pastor who told the worship team not to sing about the blood of Christ. It’s no wonder why lives are not being radically changed by the power of the gospel: Judgment is never mentioned; repentance is never sought; and sin is often excused. This leaves people confused, deceived, and depressed because they believe in a cross-less Christianity that bears no resemblance to Jesus’ sobering call to repentance. “To convince the world of the truth of Christianity, it must first be convinced of sin. It is only sin that renders Christ intelligible” (Andrew Murray). Churches have often served as the moral compass for the nation; to confront, challenge, and contend. But over the years, many have drifted from being confrontational to being popular. Richard Owen Roberts said it well, “The Lord has been so deeply grieved by the refusal of the church to faithfully proclaim the whole counsel of His word in the power of the Holy Spirit that He has largely withdrawn from the church and left her to her own devices.” We need more humble men filled with the Spirit of God to proclaim these truths. Jesus spoke the truth because of His love for the lost; we should seek to do the same. We must lovingly proclaim the whole counsel of God’s word—even the difficult truths—if we are to offer genuine hope.

3. Recognize the “true” source of lasting hope. Who is Jesus Christ to you? How you answer this question is the difference between joy and misery, happiness and grief, hope and despair. When asked this question, Peter gave the correct response: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus himself confirmed this by saying: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). Seriously consider who, and what, you choose to trust in during the difficult times ahead. If you take only one thing from this article, I hope it’s this: God has shown us the way, not through religion, but through a relationship. It’s not about what we do, but what He did on the cross. It’s not about our righteousness, but His! If you feel that your relationship with Christ is not genuine, or if you’ve never truly repented and trusted in Him as your Lord and Savior, now is the time to take that step and fully commit your life. It’s not too late—He is our only hope!