Humans are built for hope. It is the very thing that drives us, keeps us going. Hope allows us to look forward to a new day, to have goals and desires. It allows us to persevere in the darkest of times, to believe that something better is yet to come.
Hopelessness
To not have hope is to be shrouded in darkness. Hopelessness is one of the worst things a person can experience. Because without hope, we are stuck.
We sometimes find the women and children we serve in this place: feeling hopeless. They often believe that there are no other options for them. Many feel stuck in this life of abuse, sometimes feeling it is truly what they deserve. They feel hopeless. But even if they do not yet recognize it, we know they were built for hope.
Breakthrough
We can see it in their eyes when they are given an Outreach bag. When they come to the Drop-In for the first time. When they walk into their new room at the safe house. We see the anticipation for renewal, the hope for what is to come.
As Christians, we know that our ultimate hope is in Jesus. His sacrifice allows us to dwell with God and, one day, be fully reunited with Him in a new creation without pain. He is the cornerstone on which we build our lives, waiting with anticipation for that day to come.
Not all of our friends are familiar with this truth when we meet them. The women and youth we meet don’t know how Jesus loves them. They don’t know that He is pursuing them. They believe what they have been told by their traffickers and abusers: their purpose is for the profit and pleasure of others.
We turn those lies on their heads when the women we serve come to us. Staff and volunteers show them that there is hope. Volunteers tell them how Jesus loves them, how we love them. Staff ensures their needs are met. We show them another life is possible: one full of joy, freedom, and hope.
Walking in Hope
Healing does not happen all at once. Our name, RAHAB, is an acronym: Reaching Above Hopelessness and Brokenness. The ‘Reaching’ part is key: we walk with them on a journey through healing. It doesn’t happen overnight, but through relationship.
We believe there is no “hopeless” situation or person. There is nothing that takes you too far away for Jesus to come and get you. There is nothing that can stand in the way of a person desiring that connection with the Father. All we hope to do is be that bridge for whoever needs to find that truth.
We believe there is always hope. Hope for redemption, for healing, for grace. No matter who they are, they were built for hope.