Abiding Hope: Standing in Faith When Life Is Crumbling a 3-Day Plan by Jackie Smith-BellSýnishorn

Abiding Hope: When Life Hurts

My husband and I got pregnant with our first two children with ease. However, when we tried to have our third child, there were complications and I had two miscarriages in one year.

Life can be unpredictable. One minute, everything is right and the next minute, everything can go wrong. It's easy to find ourselves in a place of lingering despair and longing for comfort. I’ve also struggled with this back-and-forth exchange as I've grieved my own losses and those of others around me.

Though grief's consequences can be met with unanswered questions and deep sorrow, the Bible and the Holy Spirit also comfort our hearts with reminders of God's source of hope and sovereignty when life hurts.

Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

The word "hope" is mentioned not once but twice.

In today's reading, Apostle Paul first mention of hope refers to God as our lasting source of hope when life feels short-lived, and he highlights two important points I'd like to share with you:

God is hope fulfilled. Abiding in Him is essential to expressing our emotions when trials come. In Him we can gain comfort and strength because of who He is: powerful, wise, good, steadfast, and sovereign.

Paul's second mention of hope refers to us as joint heirs.

God wills us hope as His children. When we choose to believe the Father is who He says He is, we can rest in His promises. God is not a human that He would lie (Numbers 23:19). When God makes a promise to us, it will be accomplished through His sovereignty.

As humans we can't produce hope in our own strength. God makes hope possible by the power of the Holy Spirit abiding within us.

The more I meditate on the truth found in Romans 15:13, the more God heals my heartache. And He offers this same comfort for you. You too can embrace both joy and peace by believing that God is in the hurt with you and that He keeps track of every tear that falls. (Psalm 56:8). He is the source of hope that stays with us when life is crumbling before our eyes.

Reflection: Often, we sometimes numb our pain with temporary solutions. What are some ways you can invite God into your suffering to fill your permanent hope?

Prayer: Dear God when life hurts You are my safe place and abiding hope. Help me believe both joy and peace meet me in every circumstance. In Jesus' name, amen.

Did this Plan encourage you? Would you like more prayers of hope to speak over your circumstance? Click the link for more encouragement!

https://jackiesmithbell.myflodesk.com/abidinghopeprayers