Hope for the Hurting
- jenti286
- Jan 23
- 2 min read
Has there ever been a time you felt hopeless?
When it felt like all walls were closing in, snuffing out any rays of light. When your prayers felt unanswered, when worry clouded your mind and your circumstances seemed impossible to overcome.
If you answered yes, you're not alone.
Hopelessness often sets in after trying to perservere through an enduring storm that batters relentlessly at your life. Whether it be financial hardship, relational breakdown, loss of a loved one or unmet expectations, it can leave you feeling wrecked and exhausted, wondering when it will pass by.
When all safety nets have snapped and God seems silent in our distress, our faith in Him can grown dim. Disappointment, resentment, bitterness and anger drown our hope as we ask, "Can a God who loves me really allow me to suffer like this?"
This same question is a running theme in the lives of many in the Bible. Joseph. Moses. David. Hannah. Elijah. Job. Jeremiah. Nehemiah. Paul. Jesus.
But what kept them going when hope seemed lost? When serving and obedience seemed fruitless? When life had become the valley of the shadow of death? And God seemed nowhere to be found. The key is found in Psalm 119:50:
My comfort in my suffering is this: your promise preserves my life.
When life felt unbearable, barren and bitter, they held onto who they knew God to be. Helper. Comforter. Deliverer. Restorer. Promise-keeper. They cried. They questioned. They wrestled. They grieved. And right there, in their brokenness and pain, God met each of them. He met them in the ways they needed Him. Whether speaking a word, or fulfilling a word, He preserved them. When we can't feel God's manifest presence, we have what we need to overcome. His Word.
GOD'S PROMISES TO YOU
Isaiah 58:11: The Lord God will guide you always. He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Isaiah 41:10: Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go. I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Isaiah 50:10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God.
The key to a hope that hurts is to hold fast to the Word of God.
We've turned this blog post into a hyperlinked digital journal so you can keep this message of hope with you wherever you are! To get the best experience out of this journal, you will need to download a notes app such as Goodnotes on an iPad or tablet.
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