We may have experienced giving again and again to someone until we feel so empty and exhausted that we wonder whether everything we ever did was in vain. What have we done wrong? Why is it that others could never seem to be satisifed with all that they have received?
Sometimes, the answer is not in whether we have given enough, but in whether we have chosen well what to give.
There are many gifts that can give temporary happiness. They quickly give excitement to those we give, and they too, may think that our gifts are the answer to their prayers.
Soon however, they feel dissatisfied again and start to ask for other things. This cycle goes on with people really having no clear idea what could make them truly satisfied.
We must pray then that what we give has an enduring value. More than fleeting excitement, it must be able to satisfy the soul. More than material wants, it must be able to heal emotional and spiritual wounds that hinder people from receiving true happiness.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23, WEB
The thing about hope is that it’s a positive force that shines the most when it’s dark. When everything’s going well, we hardly notice it’s there. But when things go against us, when our dreams fade and when we see no immediate reprieve from our troubles, that’s when hope does its best work for us.
"Where Hope Can Be Found"