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How do you hold on to hope in moments of suffering?

When you experience heartache and loss, you can feel like things will never get better. As the days pass by, I know firsthand how the weight of disappointment grows greater with the passing of time. Even if you are trying to hold out hope for positive change in your life, the chance of a brighter outcome might seem to dwindle with each moment.

Do you ever feel this way?

In times of suffering, it can feel like you’ve had the wind knocked out of you, like you’re left all alone to put the broken pieces of your life back together. But here’s the thing: That’s just what the enemy wants you to think.

He wants you to think that you are alone. 

If you’ve ever been in this situation, you may find yourself pleading with God to change your circumstances and take the pain away. You might beg Him to deliver you out of the hardship, offer some semblance of hope, or give you answers.

It’s our human nature to want out of tough stuff.

I’m so glad that there are wise people who can speak to what we do when life seems more challenging than we would prefer. Dr. Curt Thompson and I dive into the believer’s relationship with suffering and hope. I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with Dr. Thompson on The Sister Circle podcast before, so I knew this conversation would also be deep and meaningful.

In his latest book, “The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope,” Dr. Thompson pairs his clinical knowledge as a psychiatrist with his own life experience, allowing him to engage with his patients and readers of his books with empathy.

Dr. Thompson invites us to look at pain differently. What would happen if you, too, chose to lean into moments of suffering and support your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? How much more then would you be able to see the hand of God even in times of sorrow? After all, we are called to “rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15)

While the idea of suffering can push even the most committed Christian to a place they never thought possible, Dr. Thompson offers a different perspective. When you use tough moments as opportunities to lean on others in the faith, you can experience the glory and the goodness of God. You can receive support from others in a way that makes you feel seen, heard, and safe.

If your hope has been shaken, you might be left with feelings of disappointment, confusion, and even anger. Sometimes, these negative feelings can cause you to feel ashamed. 

But don’t let your suffering silence you. 

Join that small group of women or reach out to the caring family member who has been checking on you. When you begin to step outside of yourself and see the humanity in others, you’ll find yourself supported in your suffering as well.

If you’ve been tempted to lose hope because you’ve felt let down in the past, or if you’ve been afraid of the judgment that may come if you admit your true feelings – you have another option.

You can choose to believe that Jesus can handle the weight of all of your feelings. 

Suffering will never feel good.

There’s no getting around that.

It is a part of the human condition. However, we can be strengthened when others operating in God’s love reach down to lift us up and encourage us to fight the good fight. Scripture reminds us, “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.” (Romans 5:3)

It is my prayer that if you’re suffering for any reason, you give yourself the grace to heal with a trusted community fully and the hope to believe that God can meet you right where you are. 

Despite what has happened in the past, know that you are loved and with hope you can live freely again.

 

 

Highlights from Today’s Episode

  • Stop suffering in silence
  • Connect with community
  • Deal with disappointment and shame 
  • Have the courage to hope again

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Let’s Talk!

  1. What moments in your life caused you to lose hope that things would get better?
  2. Who can you go to when things get difficult in your life? Who can come to you for support?
  3. What Scriptures remind you of God’s love even in moments of disappointment or shame?

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