In the midst of so much news about suffering in our world – is there `hope`?

The capture of the two hundred young women in Nigeria – the constant tragedies in Syria and Afghanistan – the mining disaster in Turkey –and so much more – all speak of a volatile world in which we live.

These issues confront and challenge us about the human condition and make us realise that life is serious and must not be trivialised.

So where do we look for hope ? The death of the young man Stephen Sutton at 19 years of age is tragic – but in the depth of his agony he found the inner strength to face death by being positive about the short time he had left in order to do good for others by helping to raise over £3 million for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Surely, it is this kind of courage we all need to have in the face of life`s challenges knowing that anything good is never easy.

There are those who have a real `downer` on Blackburn – but just look around.

A new bus station and leisure complex, a new hotel and restaurants in the Cathedral complex – these are physical signs of hope. But it is only when any of us – as residents of Blackburn take seriously the challenges before out town, and like Stephen Sutton face them and engage with them that change takes place.

The Christian belief is that God came to this world in the form of the man Jesus – to get involved with us in our human dilemma and therefore a God who gets right down in the mess with us and brings us hope.

As we see the signs of hope in the physical changes to our town – let us also reflect on the One who can give us personal hope.

Jesus said:`I have come that you might have life in abundance`. The Christian believes that it is possible to have a relationship with God which then underpins our life at the deepest level to bring us personal security and the strongest foundation we can have to develop relationships, and even to bring hope to other people.

This is where real hope for our town will really come from – if we have the courage and wisdom to take up the challenge of faith.

The Venerable John Hawley - The Archdeacon of Blackburn