Posted by Hope is a little four-letter word that packs a powerful punch. It is what gets us through the mundane, the stress, the trauma, the pain, really everything. I have people come into my office every day that struggle to find hope in their lives. It is something they are searching for because if only they could have hope then there is strength to get through another minute, another hour, another day.
I’ve had moments like this in my life many times. While it doesn’t have to be a major trauma or mental health issue, life has a way of throwing curveballs at us that can knock us off our feet. When we struggle it is so reassuring to have hope, to know things will get better and to know we will make it through.
There was a season in my life when I felt hopeless. My heart had been broken and I had to learn to pick up the pieces. Thankfully with a great counselor I began to understand, heal, and move forward. As I began to do the hard work for my healing, I found that in the dark moments I had to cling to hope. I had to know that it would get better. Thankfully, because of my relationship with Christ, I knew I could hope because He is always faithful. He always has my best interest at heart and will bring good even from the most painful and challenging circumstances.
Through this season of my life God gave me a special verse that I even got tattooed on my wrist as a constant reminder that my hope is in Him. When life throws those curveballs at me, I can look down and be reminded that I have a hope because of who God is. The verse is Romans 15:13 which says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” As I did then and I continue to do now; I placed my trust in God for the outcome and He gave me the joy, peace and hope I needed to endure.
If you are reading this today and you feel hopeless, I want to remind you that there is hope. While I realize that not everyone has a relationship with God, I want to encourage you to give Him a chance. You may have been hurt deeply, even by people in the church, but thankfully God is bigger, God is greater, and God is faithful. People will hurt you and fail you. Life will be hard and sometimes painful. But, God. But, God has a plan. But, God has a purpose and has promised He will never leave you. Seek Him. Read His Word. Find comfort and solace in knowing that whatever you are walking through today you can hope in Him. You can know that He is walking beside you each step that you take.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
– Romans 5:1-4
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