Why We Can Have Hope in the Midst of Our Worst Circumstances

Sometimes life looks much different than we expect. Sometimes situations seem hopeless. Yet looks can be deceiving!

We can have hold onto hope, even in our worst circumstances.

The Worst Circumstances

Job discovered this. (If you haven’t yet, you must read the book of Job!). He faced death of loved ones, destruction of his property: the worst calamities you can imagine.

In fact, at one point, Job wished he were dead: it was that bad!

Yet with God, what looks like the end of anything good is often the beginning of something beautiful. God fully restored Job with far more than he had previously possessed.

With God, what looks like the end of anything good is often the beginning of something beautiful. Click To Tweet

Of course Job still grieved the loss of his children, but the lesson he learned about the faithfulness of God was invaluable. 

In the end, Job’s most difficult struggle yielded the most valuable lesson. I’m finding the same to be true.

The most difficult struggles yield the most valuable lessons. Click To Tweet

Death’s Lie

I remember always wanting to be a mother. So when I became pregnant for the first time, I couldn’t wait to hold our little bundle.

Yet, instead of the life I expected, I walked away from the clinic with no heartbeat and no baby to welcome into this world.

The darkness that greeted me in the miscarriage of our first child, sucked me into a vacuum of grief. Everywhere I looked I saw death.

I fell into the lie that death was permanent. I didn’t yet grasp the truth that it had already been defeated. The victory already won! 

As God demonstrated His faithfulness to me through the years that followed though (and more difficult circumstances), I began to learn a priceless truth:

In Christ’s defeat of death on the cross, He secured abiding hope!

In Christ's defeat of death on the cross, He secured abiding hope! Click To Tweet

Life in God’s Hands

Oh, I grieved the child I didn’t get to hold, and rightly so, but the Lord revealed to me that I didn’t need to grieve as one with no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

Thanks to the work of the Savior, death holds no power in the lives of His followers. Death is never an end for Christians, but merely the beginning of something far more beautiful! 

Thanks to the work of the Savior on the cross, death holds no power in the lives of His followers. Click To Tweet

The earthly life of my sweet child never came to be, but make no mistake, she lives! What I had grieved as death is life in the hands of God. 

Losing someone or something we love will always be hard. But when looked at through the eyes of faith, one can see a new possibility.

Because for those who love Him, God redeems all situations, bringing beautiful life out of what we deem dead and offers everlasting hope…

…hope in the midst of even the worst circumstances!

For those who love Him, God brings beautiful life out of what we deem dead and offers everlasting hope! Click To Tweet

“For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17 NLT

“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28 

Reflections: Where have you seen life sprout from what appeared to be dead? In what situations have you learned the greatest lessons? Where are you looking for hope?

I am always thrilled to link up with Suzie Eller for #livefreeThursday and this week’s prompt, “life and death.” Also check out Suzie’s 30 Days to Life Shaking Study. It’s not too late to join! Click on the title or image to find out more or sign up.

By His grace ≈

Julie