Commitment From The Heart

01-05-2026

Last night, I attended an event for a nonprofit called Hope Is Alive. The gathering was for both clients and supporters. Although the organization is based in Oklahoma City, it operates nationwide. They opened a men’s recovery home in Greenville, North Carolina, in January of 2023. Their mission is simple yet bold: “To radically change the lives of drug addicts, alcoholics, and those who love them.”

To be honest, I had never heard of Hope Is Alive before this past year. That changed when I met their staff development director. Learning about what they do was eye-opening. Seeing firsthand the lives they are changing was even more impactful. What surprised me most was the depth of Christ’s genuine love on display. You don’t have to be a drug addict or alcoholic to relate. We are all broken in some way. We all need Christ’s love and support.

Greenville is filled with extraordinary nonprofits doing meaningful work. Because of that, it can be difficult to decide who to support and at what level. One thing worth saying is that giving money is the easy part. Becoming personally involved is much harder. Truly investing in others’ lives requires more. Last night, I witnessed several supporters who have made that commitment. They chose to step into people’s lives on a deeper level.

Right now, I feel like my toe is still in the shallow end of the pool. I’m not sure if this is where God wants me to connect. There may be other nonprofits or ministries where I am called to plug in. I know I want to give more than money. I want to give my time. Being completely honest, that feels uncomfortable. It’s the kind of place where you don’t feel adequate. But maybe that’s exactly where growth begins.

One of my daily devotions comes from In Touch. Today’s lesson is titled When It’s Wise to Wait (Psalm 130:1–8). It says, “In order to keep in step with the Lord, we need to carry out His instruction in accordance with His timetable. In God’s kingdom, waiting means seeking further direction from Him while remaining in our present circumstances. It includes both expectancy—‘God, what would You like me to do?’—and readiness—‘God, I am willing to do as You direct.’”

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