Hope? Hope.



Look at this beautiful city. What once was one of the greatest cities in the world is now criticized for being one of the lowliest. What once was a productive, thriving city is now broken down and abandoned. What once was a sign of hope for people wanting to “make it” is now a picture of despair. This is Detroit. This is my city.

Yesterday, I was part of a group of young people who will be spending a week in Detroit later this summer, spreading God’s love and seeking revival for this once great city. As we looked at some of the issues that it’s dealing with, we were asked to discuss them. What words come to mind when you look at the video of the town? What problems are there? What is going to bring hope to this city? As we began talking in groups it became obvious that some people didn’t really believe it was possible for Detroit to thrive again. People spoke about gang violence, drugs, bankruptcy, failed school systems, all things that Detroit is facing. At one point, someone even said that the Chicago Bulls coming to town was the only thing that could save it. We all live close to the city and have seen firsthand what we’re fighting against. It’s real. Real poverty, real hopelessness, real pain. It’s easy to see how some can get discouraged when they see the list of obstacles that will need to be overcome in order to rise up. We read it in the news, hear it on the radio and see it on TV. It seems everyone believes there is no hope for Detroit

BUT.

I cannot help but believe that there is hope for Detroit. Yes, there’s a mile high list of things that will need to be dealt with. But my God is a God of redemption. He is one who makes beauty out of ashes. It is His very nature. There are broken things in this world as a result of sin but God wants to make them whole and pure again. It seems like I’m constantly quoting this verse but Ecclesiastes 3 says there is “a time to tear and a time to mend”. It’s safe to say that Detroit is torn right now. But a new season of healing and rebirth will come over this city. God is working in the hearts of the people there and in reality, that is what’s going to bring about this revival. Not emergency managers, not a huge amount of money, or better schools, but God overwhelming this city with love through those who love Him. He desires the souls of the people who reside in these broken neighborhoods. He longs for the hearts of the drug dealers and criminals as well as the children who live in fear of them. If the God of redemption is made known in this dark place, big things are bound to happen. When God gets a hold of this city, there will be a revival. And I, for one, do not want to miss it.

"Jesus looked at them and said 'With man this is impossible but with God, all things are possible" Matthew 19:26