In prison, lifers especially may abandon all hope, and only wait for the end. Some though do not let prison walls enclose their minds. They come to faith in the way that only God knows, spread their faith to other prisoners and even to their guards. They are no longer in prison even if the walls are still there. ”Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage”.
For every person in prison there are thousands or more not behind walls, but inside walls of their own making. You can often identify them by the vacant look on their faces, a weary look, lines of fatigue, no smile or twinkle in their eyes. They are imprisoned in Satan’s gloom of hopelessness. A hopeless heart is a defeated heart that sees no signs of future joys, no anticipation of better things.
If you know no God as some atheists, is there anything in life to urge you to better things? Some atheists seem to be content with their life, but are they ever truly happy? Are they searching to fill a void that will never be filled? They must feel happy at least at times, and God allowed me to experience this for ten years of my life when I was about forty. I was busy, was helping to raise a family, and doing well in business. I thought I was happy without God in my life, none, nada. But God opened my mind, and when it came to me that God was really giving me a good life and good health, I started to thank Him every day.
Even during the godless times, I never felt that I was imprisoned behind walls of my mind, so I am not sure how this comes about. I have always been an optimist, a God-given habit. But we know from the suicide rate that many see no way out of the prison of their mind. They hold certain beliefs that constrain any effort of optimism. If our belief system excludes God or biblical promises permanently, little but ultimate despair can survive.
If we believe the story of Christ, His birth, teachings, death and resurrection, we cannot help but be hopeful of our ultimate future. And this keeps despair on the outside of our lives. Our God doesn’t promise a life without trials but He guarantees to be there to help when it is needed. This gives us every reason to be cheerful.