A close family member was suffering from a severe mental illness, and I was losing hope. I prayed earnestly for God to heal them, but the situation didn’t seem to be changing. Time passed without improvement, and I grew impatient and sad as I realized that the healing I desired might not happen here on earth. I felt small and insignificant in the eyes of God—He wasn’t hearing my request. My hope faded, and my heart hardened.
Instead of pouring out my sadness and confusion to God, I just stopped talking to Him about the situation. My spiritual vision became blurred. My faith in God became based on what I saw Him doing for me instead of His faithful love and goodness.
I allowed my feelings to impact my relationship with Him.
Thankfully, I soon realized my state of hopelessness and turned to the Bible. There I found a roadmap to getting back on track with God. His truth renewed my hope, restored our relationship, and destroyed the lies I was beginning to believe.
Maybe you’ve been praying and waiting for God to change your circumstance, but like me, you’ve found yourself losing hope and cutting God out of your life. Please don’t pull away from Him like I did. Instead, give Him your concerns and press in to a full and beautiful relationship with your Creator. That’s where hope is found.
I wanted to share with you the roadmap of verses that put me on the right track of hope. I know it can help you too. This map is easy to use: just identify the way you feel and then allow God’s Word to speak truth to your heart. His truth always keeps you on a road of hope.
FEELING: None of my plans are going my way.
TRUTH: God is the One who guides my steps; I will trust in Him (Proverbs 16:9).
FEELING: My friends have abandoned me, and my family has let me down.
TRUTH: I am adopted into God’s family; He will never let me down (2 Corinthians 6:18).
FEELING: My mind is scattered; my heart is broken.
TRUTH: God protects my heart and mind; I will rest in Him (Philippians 4:7).
FEELING: I can’t find my way. Everything keeps changing.
TRUTH: Christ never changes; I will fix my eyes on Him (Hebrews 13:8).
FEELING: I have no purpose.
TRUTH: I’m God’s masterpiece, and He has a good work for me to do (Ephesians 2:10).
FEELING: I am tired and weak.
TRUTH: When I am weak, God makes me strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).
FEELING: Evil is pressing in around me.
TRUTH: Christ will rescue me from every evil attack (2 Timothy 4:18).
FEELING: Life is too hard!
TRUTH: When I draw near to Jesus in my time of need, I step into His overflowing fountain of grace and mercy (Hebrews 4:16).
Following God’s roadmap of truth will bring you to His scenic overlook of hope. Let your soul be still as your eyes take in the beauty of His promises. Bow your heart in thankfulness as you remember that God is ever faithful to His Word. In Him, there is always hope.
