Give Hope a Chance

“Faith doesn’t ignore a doctor’s diagnosis.  It does, however, seek a second opinion from the Great Physician.” _Mark Batterson, The Grave Robber: How Jesus Can Make Your Impossible Possible

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I don’t think it occurs to most people that if they want a second chance they need a second opinion. 

You can’t keep repeating the same old negative litany and expect a new outcome.

For example, everyone knew that the moon was off limits, but then John F. Kennedy while speaking at a joint session of Congress on May 25, 1961 changed everything by giving a second opinion. He said, “I believe that this Nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth.”

And what happened? Resources, skills, time were allotted differently. Focus changed. Attention was diverted in a different diffection. Conversations changed from why it can’t happen to how it could happen. And long story short… On July 20, 1969, American astronauts Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin (1930-) became the first humans ever to land on the moon.

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Whether consciously or not, we all have voices in our head giving us permission or throwing up stop signs telling us we can’t and shouldn’t. 

Neither is necessarily bad.  There are indeed things that we can’t and shouldn’t do.  But this I also know, there are many things we could (and should) do if we just had the faith and confidence that we could. 

Where do we get that faith and confidence?  By getting a second opinion, by changing the negative script that binds and blinds us to the possibilities.

Getting a second opinion is not always easy.  It may mean finding new friends, getting out of unhealthy relationships and organizations.  It will definitely require you to do things and go places you’ve never tried before.

But…to not try is to say, “I will not give hope a chance.”

The ONE THING for today: The first step to becoming a better you is to give hope a chance by getting a second opinion.