It is inevitable that we will go through times of despair in our lives. Jesus told us in John 16:33, in this world, we will have tribulations and trials distress and frustration, but be a good cheer and take courage, be confident, for He has overcome the world.
In difficult times we might feel like giving up or feeling like we’re stuck and don’t know where to turn. But when we hold onto hope and put our trust in God, He always makes a way. he will take whatever we are going through and make good out of it.
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to His purpose” -Romans 8:28
When I was growing up, I was neglected, and abused there were many times I wondered why these things were happening. Why was God letting them happen. I cried and begged for help. I told my teacher at school and was ignored because my mother told them I just had an active imagination. After a while I gave up hope, as the depression set in I coped by taking alcohol out of the refrigerator and getting drunk at age 13 I began doing drugs, anything I could find to numb the pain I was feeling. And I would do anything to get my hands on those drugs. My excuse was if no one else cared why should I. That led to many years of suffering. I had lost all hope. When I turned 22 I was a complete mess. I then met my husband of 36 years. But I wasn’t any better off, I still did drugs. It wasn’t until one night I overdosed. I remember thinking well this is it. I’m dying. Miraculously, I came out of it and never did hard drugs again. Children came, and through raising them, I still took pain pills to numb the pain, but I was always there for my children.
Fast forward 18 years and I became a follower of Jesus, even though I was very angry at God. I figured I had tried to fill the hole inside my soul, with everything else but Him. He didn’t get me out of the situations in my life, but He gave me the strength to get through it. I realized that through it all I still had hope it would get better. I took four years of repenting, begging, and a hope for a good future.
God how to plan for my life through it all. He had taken what Satan meant for harm and turned it into something good. I can honestly tell you that God has transformed me from being negative and pessimistic and into someone who is full of hope, always expecting kids goodness around every corner.
Hope is the confident expectation that something good is going to happen. I hopeful person refuses to be let negativity, ruin their life, even when they deal with the storms of life. Remaining hopeful and thought, attitude, and conversation.
When I began to study God’s Word, that’s when I discovered real hope, that nothing is impossible with a God attitude and an awareness that God is actually expecting, looking and longing to show us His goodness.
Isaiah 30:18 tells us, “Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you, and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you, for the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
The Bible even tells us that hope is an anchor to our soul, our mind, our will and our emotions. In Hebrews 6:19 it says, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil.”
This means that when everything looks bleak, and it seems like nothing makes sense, and it feels like God‘s promises will never come to pass in our lives, hope is the anchor that pulls us back and says, hold on, your help is on the way.
God wants us to live a life full of hope, bleeding, and expecting great things from Him. It’s not about a wishy-washy vague. Hope it’s a let’s just wait and see what happens kind of hope. It’s an attitude that says trust that He will do what He has promised. 
I’ve learned a few things through my journey of life:
- Never give up! Fight the temptation to think that there is no way out of your situation. Jesus is the way. This is the time to draw close and follow him.
- Avoid blaming God or thinking he is punishing you for some sin. He is just using the situation to work in your life. And while it may not feel the greatest, His purpose will always be used for good.
- Do what’s right, even when you’re hurting, when it doesn’t feel right or when others treat you badly. Do something good for as many people as you can and as often as you can.
- Don’t withdraw or sulk or isolate yourself from others. You can either be pitiful or powerful, but you can’t be both. Many times God uses others to encourage us during our tough times.
- Always keep your word and honor your commitments. This is character building time, and you are being prepared to take your place in the palace.
- Don’t stop believing. Don’t give up hope that God can improve your situation.
Hope is only as strong asit’s source. That is why the foundation of our hope must be God and the promises that are found in His Word. If God is not the source, hope it’s just a wishful thought.
The world can be a difficult place, but God‘s hope is unshakable, all powerful, all knowing, and ever present. When we have a relationship with Jesus, it fills us with hope and confidence because we realize He is greater than any situation we will ever encounter.
From Pity to Praise 