If
you were to take stock right now, what would you say is your most important life
concern? The majority of people say family takes first place, but prayer is needed to alleviate the anxiety that
comes with facing an uncertain future. Hope for the future tends to diminish where
pessimism and negativity are allowed to gain a foothold, for these indicate an
attitude of hopelessness.
Integrity anchored in faith and trust in
the Lord Jesus Christ provides hope for the future. Integrity under-girds a
belief that God faithfully supplies a good purpose for our existence at every stage of
development. Growth, change, and discovery become a never-ending process for those
who maintain hope and are willing to participate in what God has to offer.
St.
Paul put it this way, "For this reason we do not give up. Even though on the outside it looks as if
things are falling apart, our spiritual self is being renewed day after
day." Our integrity gets a boost
when we put into action what we believe and know to be true of God's faithfulness,
mercy, and compassion.
