Why you should hope: life out of the ashes or from nothing at all

​In the beginning God created (by forming from nothing) the heavens and the earth.  (Gen. 1:1, Amplified Bible)  By faith (that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God) we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed and created (formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible. (Heb. 11:3, AB)
 
            You might find it odd that I say that those two passages are the basis for hope.  Let me explain.  God created all that we know out of nothing.  He didn’t need starting material.  God was the starting material.  Everything that lives and breathes and exists was formed out of God Himself.  He used His very being to bring all of this into existence, including your life.  What that means for us in the most practical sense, is that God’s intervention in our lives doesn’t rest on anything we bring to the table, except a willingness to have Him intervene.  We don’t have to have our acts together, we don’t have to have resources to contribute toward our problem, we don’t have to have ability. 
            If your life is failing apart, or your marriage is a hot mess, that’s OK.  Because the power to change that lies in the person of God.  In His goodness.  In His faithfulness.  In His power, and wisdom, and kindness.  All you have to bring is a desire to be changed and a willingness to cooperate.  And even that is a bit sketchy, since one of my favorite prayers in scripture is the man who said, “Lord I believe.  Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)  Sometimes that’s where we have to start.  “Lord, I’m willing; help my unwillingness.  Lord, I want change; help the part of me that is comfortable staying in my mess.  Lord I believe you, but I confess that there are times I struggle with that.  Help me in the struggle”
            Things are never too far gone, too dead, too decayed, for God.  It is never too late for God to save the day, so it is never too late for you to hope.  God made all of this out of nothing.  Let's press on toward life together.