Sometimes life hits us with moments that shake our hope. Maybe you’ve been there. A devastating diagnosis. A broken relationship. An unexpected accident. The fallout of someone else’s choices. Moments like these leave us searching for answers.
So, where do you turn?
I’ve learned that while encouragement from others is valuable and comfort is real, true hope—hope that sustains and strengthens—comes from Jesus. God has given us His Word so that when life takes an unexpected turn, we can stand firm in faith. “All Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16), and He uses it to equip us for whatever we face (2 Tim. 3:17). He also places people in our lives to point us back to Him in our moments of need (2 Tim. 3:14-15). He does all this because He loves us.
There’s a powerful story about a man named Hien Pham, a Vietnamese believer in the 1970s whom God loved. He came to faith after an American soldier gave him a Bible, and the story of Jesus transformed his life. But after the war, he was accused of aiding Americans—a crime that led to his imprisonment. One day, while assigned to latrine duty, he noticed a discarded piece of paper. As he cleaned it off, he realized it contained a verse and a passage he desperately needed to hear:
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
In that dark and filthy place, God’s Word renewed his hope and reminded him that nothing could separate him from the love of Christ. Hope and strength in his time of need from Romans chapter 8.
Is there a verse or story that anchors your hope? I remember facing a low season in my life when Mark 10:27 spoke deeply to my soul: “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” It reminded me, Jesus redeemed what I could not. It helped us understand that God is worth any suffering we endure. His Word gives us the strength to press on today so that we can rejoice with Him forever. If you’re struggling to find hope, know that you’re not alone. There is hope here for you. Just call or come by—we’d love to walk with you.
Pastor Jeremy Johnson