Today was one of those days. It started out super optimistic, and I was really on fire for an opportunity that could change my life. I can’t really say I had my hopes up about something like this for a long time, but this was it. This was the one thing I thought could really shift things for me. I started taking steps toward that goal, feeling the excitement of potential. Even though so much of it was out of my control, I still felt a spark of hope.
But then, this afternoon, I spoke with someone whose life didn’t go the way they had expected. Things didn’t turn out the way they dreamed, and they were left feeling broken, discouraged, and confused. It was hard not to feel a shift inside of me, like all the hope I had been holding onto, all the faith I had built up, just slipped away in an instant. I began wondering if the things I’m hoping for are too much to ask. Maybe what I’m chasing isn’t meant for me after all.
I’ve been there before. I’ve had moments where I felt like my dreams were too big, too far out of reach. And today, I felt that way again. But before I let the discouragement completely take hold, I wanted to take a moment to turn back to something that always grounds me: God’s word. So, I took a breath, and I dug into the Bible to remind myself what God says about losing hope, and how I should hold onto my faith even when it seems impossible.
God’s Word to Me
1. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.” – Isaiah 43:2
God, You’ve promised that even when I feel like I’m drowning in the weight of my struggles, You are there with me. The rivers may feel deep, and the waters might seem overwhelming, but You will not let me be swept away. When I feel like hope is slipping, remind me that You are my anchor. You are the one who holds me up when the storm rages around me.
2. “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” – Isaiah 40:31
Lord, I feel weary today, and it’s hard to keep running when my strength is drained. But I hear You saying that my hope in You will renew me. That as I place my trust in You, You will give me the strength I need to keep going. I don’t have to do this alone. You’ll carry me through the hardest parts. I won’t be faint because You are my strength.
3. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7
Father, You care about me. You care about the pain I feel, the doubts I wrestle with, and the dreams I fear may never come true. When I feel discouraged and like the weight is too much, You invite me to cast it all on You. You’re not distant from my struggles. You care deeply about every part of my journey, and You want to help me bear this burden. So, I will lay it all down at Your feet, trusting that You know what’s best for me.
4. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
When I start to doubt, when I feel like maybe my hopes are misplaced, I remember this: You have a plan for me. A good plan. A plan that gives me a future full of hope. I may not see it yet, and it may not come in the way I expected, but Your plan is always better than my own. You’ve already written my story, and all I need to do is trust that You’re working behind the scenes.
5. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18
God, right now my heart feels heavy. I feel like I’m carrying a weight that I can’t shake off. But Your word reminds me that You are near to the brokenhearted. You don’t leave me in my pain. You don’t stand far off when I’m struggling. You come close. And in that closeness, You bring healing, You bring comfort, and You bring hope.
A Heartfelt Prayer
God, I’m struggling right now. My heart feels heavy, and my hope feels fragile. But I choose to trust in You. I choose to trust that You know what’s best, even when I can’t see it. I ask for Your peace to cover me and for Your strength to carry me through these hard moments. Help me to hold onto the hope You’ve promised, even when it feels like it’s slipping through my fingers. I know You are with me, and that’s all I really need. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Closing Thoughts
Losing hope doesn’t mean I’ve lost everything. It’s just a moment, a feeling, a temporary struggle. But I don’t have to let it define me. I don’t have to stay there. God is always near, always working, and always faithful. So, even when I feel like my dreams are too big or too far out of reach, I’ll keep holding on. Because in the end, it’s not about my strength or my timing. It’s about God’s perfect plan for me. And with Him, I know that anything is possible.
