Just the other day I was searching through the fridge looking for the bottle of ketchup. I looked at each shelf, and then each compartment in the doors, only to come up empty handed. I couldn’t find it anywhere.

So, I did what any man would do when they can’t find something…ask their wife. Her response… “It’s in the fridge”. To which I said, “No, it’s not, I’ve looked everywhere for it.” We went back and forth for a couple of minutes, her insisting it was in there, and I insisting that it wasn’t.

Finally, she had enough of my stubbornness, and took matters into her own hands. She walked over to the fridge, opened the door, and grabbed the bottle of ketchup that was eye level on the top shelf, right in front.

That day I realized that there is a difference between “looking” and “seeing”.

Let’s be real. We go about our day, looking at many people at work, at the store, at church, or out in the community. We look, but we don’t really “see”. In our busyness, we tend to look past people and not consider what might really be going on behind what they portray on the outside.

In the Bible, Jesus sets a different example. It says in Matthew chapter 9, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

He saw people for not only what they portrayed on the outside, but also for what was going on on the inside, and he “had compassion on them”. He saw their hurts, habits, and hang-ups, and instead of passing them by, he pointed them to hope.

The State of Oklahoma, and Kay County specifically, is home to thousands of people who struggle daily with addiction or have loved ones who do. We rank among the highest counties in the state in Methamphetamine and prescription drug abuse. We can choose to pass over these statistics, but in doing so we pass over so many hurting people who don’t know what to do or where to turn. They feel lost and hopeless. Do you see them?

They are our neighbors, coworkers, friends, and even family members. And it’s time to help them find hope.

NewPoint Church has recently partnered with a fantastic organization called “Hope is Alive” (HIA). HIA provides sober living homes for those struggling with addiction and a program with a proven track record that leads people into long term sobriety through a relationship with Jesus. Our hope and our power for overcoming addiction is found in Jesus alone, and HIA is committed to helping people find this hope through life giving community and support.

In addition to sober living homes, Hope is Alive has strategically provided a support group for loved ones of addicts right here in Ponca City at NewPoint Church. This group is called “Finding Hope”. Through Finding Hope, you’ll discover education, inspiration, and a community of other loved ones who’ve been impacted by addiction. Each week, you will have the opportunity to learn more about addiction, find tools to help those you love, and discover hope to help yourself as you journey down this road to recovery.

Finding Hope meets every 2nd & 4th Monday of the month at 6:30pm at NewPoint Church, 109 W. Hartford in Ponca City, and is open to everyone in the community.

You can find out more about Hope is Alive and Finding Hope at www.hopeisalive.net. You can also sign up for our Finding Hope support group at www.newpoint.church/groups.

The hope of the gospel is not just about eternal life later, but victory and freedom in this life today. May you and your loved ones truly find hope.