Loneliness is a modern epidemic, weariness a universal language. Yet Christ’s love disrupts both. A volunteer’s smile, a listening ear, or a box of groceries can be the very miracle someone prayed for, a tangible reminder that God has not forgotten them. In Matthew 25, Jesus equates such acts with serving Him directly: “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did for Me.” Every interaction is sacred.
In moments when pain is silent, when shame whispers lies of isolation, or when despair makes the world feel indifferent, God is not absent. Scripture reminds us that He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), that not a single tear goes unnoticed (Psalm 56:8), and that His love pursues us even in the wilderness (Hosea 2:14).
The struggles no one else acknowledges, the burdens carried in secret, these are not hidden from Him. And His response is not passive; it is active, personal, and often delivered through the hands of those willing to serve.
Gateway to Hope volunteers are His eyes and hands, in the shadows.
Jesus modeled a ministry of presence; touching the untouchable, seeing the invisible, and dignifying the forgotten. Today, volunteers embody this same compassion. A ride to a doctor’s appointment, a note of encouragement, or a prayer spoken, these are not small things. They are divine appointments, scattering seeds of hope that may one day bloom into redemption.
Proverbs 19:17 declares, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord.” Gateway to Hope’s volunteers don’t just give to God’s work, they participate in it.
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I have underlined Psalm 34:18 in my Bible and hope someday I will find it to be true.
For many, the pain of loss, suffering, and injustice can make it feel like God is far away. So how can this verse be true? God’s Nearness Isn’t Always Felt. The Bible never promises we’ll always feel God’s presence. But it promises He is present. Often, it’s in the aftermath of suffering that people look back and realize: “God was with me. I just couldn’t see it at the time.” Think of Jesus on the cross when he cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Even Jesus felt abandonment. Yet, God was still working redemption through that very moment.