9-1-1
Desperate for Love, Hope, Purpose
January is a fitting time—not to wrestle with goals, resolutions, or productivity—but to consider why we exist at all.
Over the past many weeks, having interacted with, observed, and listened to people from all walks of life—the rich, the middle class, the poor; the frightened, the hurting; the proud, the boastful; the meek, the strong; the insecure, the arrogant—in families, in the church, in government, in offices, in the streets, in courts, at war, at peace, and yes, in the mirror—I have begun seeing everyone wearing a sign that reads:
“Please… can someone give me love, hope, purpose?”
For the most part, the world feels chaotic and blurry. Solomon described a life without love, hope, and purpose as “meaningless, meaningless, meaningless.” Sadly, the frustrating and endless pursuit of most people is trying to find meaning within the meaningless. We may pretend we find it, but It cannot be found there.
Yet, I have found love, hope, and purpose—and I deeply desire that others do as well.
Many today are working hard just to survive their days, rather than truly live their lives. In the United States, a real human being takes their own life roughly every 11 minutes. Worldwide, it is about every 40 seconds. These are not statistics—they are people whose search for love, hope, and purpose ended in despair. This is profoundly sad.
A far better remedy for ending the search for love, hope, and purpose is not to abandon the search—but to discover it… to be directed to it.
All of my ponderings, all of my Running Thoughts, are intended to do just that. My hope is that we would consider—and then truly see—a very real Love, Hope, and Purpose that are found only in God: our Maker and the Author of life.
LOVE
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
— John 3:16
“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all… For I am sure that neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
— Romans 8
God does not merely say that He loves us—He demonstrates it. And until we meet Him face to face, He continues to love us, even leaving the ninety-nine to find the one. At times, we may be that one.
God does not simply give love. God is love.
When we have God, we have love.
HOPE
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
— Romans 15:13
“Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love…”
— Psalm 33
“According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”
— 1 Peter 1:3–4
Biblical hope is not the belief that things will turn out the way we want, but the confidence that God will remain who He is—no matter how things may look or feel. God is always perfectly sovereign, in control, kind, merciful and loving.
When we have God, we have hope.
PURPOSE
The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks:
What is the chief end of man?
To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
Scripture echoes this clearly:
“Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory…”
— Isaiah 43:6–7
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:31
When we live to know God and glorify God, we have purpose—and we fulfill our purpose.
Let God Answer the 9-1-1 Call
Let God answer your 9-1-1 call with Psalm 139. Sit with it. Think deeply about it. This psalm reveals a God who is completely trustworthy to care for all who come to Him.
O LORD, you have searched me and known me! (He knows us and loves us!)
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; (He keeps and eye on His kids)
you discern my thoughts from afar. (He even knows my mind, our wants, fears etc.)
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways. (ALL)
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me. (ahh, peace)
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! (everywhere I am, HE IS)
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you. (I may feel depressed, but God never is)
13 For you formed my inward parts; (He is our Maker)
you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me, (God has seen all our days, no surprises!)
when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them! Psalms 139 1-17
As you look around and see people wearing signs seeking love, hope, and purpose, let our lives be the answer to their desperate 9-1-1 call.
We have to go, to know. And those of us who have gone and now know must show love and hope—because this is our purpose. We are ambassadors for God.
Let us walk with great empathy. And we who see, let us gently lead those who are blind.
Thank you Tommy…inspiring words!