And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace…
Mark 5:34
Arnold Schwarzenegger
It’s hard to think of a man who has had more across the board success than Arnold. Considered by most as the
greatest professional bodybuilder who has ever lived, a wildly popular action movie star, a Congressman, a CEO of several profitable businesses and a cultural icon.
Did you know Arnold came from the most humble of backgrounds? Born in Austria to middle class parents, his father continuously cut down his dreams and aspirations of coming to America and competing in bodybuilding and eventually becoming an actor.
When he did arrive in America he could hardly speak a word of English and hardly had $10 in his pocket. Slowly, but surely Arnold achieved his goals never allowing the hope of total success to leave his heart. In fact he says he never gave himself the luxury of self doubt for a moment! We saw how far his will and his big dreams carried him don’t we? If Arnold can accomplish all this with no money, hardly understanding English and few other resources beyond his body and mind, think of everything you can accomplish!
Abraham Lincoln
It would be hard to argue against Abraham Lincoln as being the most recognizable and beloved American President. Having ended slavery he will always be remembered as one of the USA’s greatest social reformers and heroic figures in the face of great danger.
His story is also one filled with hope and examples of how a man can rise from the very bottom to the top if he believes and commits himself to moving forward despite any failures along the way.
In fact Lincoln failed repeatedly on his path to the Presidency. He had lost several elections to congress and senate, he saw his business fail, a wife die an early death and even had a serious nervous breakdown at one point! However, despite this, what he never did was lose hope.
That flicker of hope turned into a flame and eventually a presidency that changed both America and the world. Although cruelly murdered for his beliefs his name will live on and inspire many struggling to succeed against great obstacles for a long time to come.
Paul Connolly.
Paul Connolly may not flash to mind like Arnold or Abraham Lincoln, but his story is one that shows that literally anything is possible with hope. Paul was abandoned in a dumpster as an infant, found by police and sent to an Essex orphanage in the U.K. where he is from. At the orphanage he experienced years and years of horrific abuse.
Illiterate until the age of 25, Paul worked as a personal trainer and a boxer while learning to read so late in life. In 2012 he released a book “Against All Odds” describing his life and the hope which kept him moving forward despite all odds, which ended up a best seller.
Today he lives happily as both an author, trainer and inspirational speaker. Living proof that with hope anything is possible, even under the worst imaginable conditions.
The Hall Of Faith
The Bible presents many stories of hope and inspiration. Time and time again thsoe we now call heroes of the faith overcame insurmountable odss through the help of their God. I am offering you the full text of hebres chapter 11. It is well worth the few monent it takes to read!
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 and others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and indens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
