We all want to know the secret of how to remain hopeful under great pressure. Life is tossing us, pressing us on every side, and sometimes the pressure gets so intense that we despair for our lives or the life of a loved one.
We despair to the point of death. Still, we can remain hopeful and courageous in the agonizing times of great pressure. Here is why and how.
How to Remain Hopeful When a Tragedy Strikes
My phone rang at midnight. Unknown number. I picked up with a shaky hand preparing myself for the bad news. My husband spent the whole afternoon in the emergency because of a possible heart attack but I was confident and peaceful that it was something minor that they could fix easily. “Madam, we need to make an emergency OP. The life of your husband is in extreme danger. It will take the whole night.”
In one second the fabric of “my normal” was torn away. And this was just the beginning. After two weeks in the hospital, four surgeries, and countless prayers, I got the most dreaded call making me faint – the news about my husband’s death.
As a believer, how I am supposed to pass through this agony and remain hopeful under the enormous pressure of such a loss, pain, and uncertainty?
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Hopeful Because We Rely on God Who Delivers
“He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.” (2 Corinthians 1:10)
Our God is a Savior and Deliverer. This is an expression of His love and heart, and it does not change. Even when we despair to death, the truth is that His perfect will is to deliver us from deadly perils. We can remain hopeful when we remember the many times, He has come through for us in the past and decide to set our hope that He will continue to deliver us.
We can remain hopeful when we remember the many times God has come through for us in the past and decide to set our hope that He will continue to deliver us. #hope #encouragement #staystrong #trustGod Share on XHopeful Because We Believe in God, Who Raises the Dead
“We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1: 8-9)
Friend, this is the reality. Our Christian faith is not a ticket to a pain- and loss-free life. Yes, we will experience times of great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, when we can despair of life itself and don’t want to live anymore. But in Christ, we have received a LIFE sentence. He is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, holding the keys of death and hell. (Revelation 1:18)
Do we truly believe this? Can we move to deeper trust and experiential faith? This can only happen in the deep, drowning waters of fiery trials.
The Christian faith is not a ticket to a pain- and loss-free life. But in Christ, we have received a LIFE sentence. #encouragment #faith #Christianliving Share on XHopeful Because His Power Is in Work in Our Weaknesses
“We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
We can remain hopeful because the all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:7) This supernatural power of God is the firm foundation keeping us steady and strong.
We may crumble but we will not crush; we may be overwhelmed by doubts and questions, but we will not despair: we may be physically alone, rejected, or neglected, but we are never abandoned by our heavenly Father. Yes, we may be, and we will be struck down, but we will not be destroyed. Our life is hidden in Christ and if He lives, we live too. (Colossians 3:3).
God is a way-maker, miracle-doer, and He gives us strength for every step of the way.
The all-surpassing power of God in our jars of clay is the firm foundation keeping us steady, strong, and hopeful. #hope #encouragement #Christianliving Share on XHopeful Because We Can Trust God’s Good Plan
“Yet it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief… he will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands. After he has suffered, he will see the fruit of his suffering and be satisfied.” – (Isaiah 53:10-11a NLT)
Friend, do you truly believe that God has a good plan? Do you still believe that the plan is good even if it contains crushing, grieving, and suffering? This is a great contradiction that causes us to struggle and doubt – hardship and joy, weakness, and strength, suffering, and growth. They all go hand in hand, contradictory in nature, the two sides of the coin of life.
Every crisis, every pressure, and every hardship contains a powerful promise – to bring us closer to the Lord and perfect our faith and character. It is destined to achieve for us an eternal glory that far outweighs all our troubles. And this is a good plan. (2 Corinthians 4:17)
NEW BOOK for All Who Go Through Suffering and Pain
Do you want to draw near to God when you are tempted to pull away amidst painful and traumatic experiences? Do you long for the transformation of your painful story into a story of preparation, empowerment, fruitfulness, and growth?
My new book “DRAW NEAR: How Painful Experiences Become the Birthplace of Blessings” takes you on a journey through 13 painful experiences, showing the precious blessings in each of them.
More Encouragement to Remain Hopeful
If you need more resources, encouragement, and comfort when you go through painful experiences, I can highly recommend these books. Check them out.
Life Changing Stories by Mary Armand (You can find my story here, too!)
Hope for the Hard Days by Sarah Geringer
The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope by Curt Thompson
Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day by Karen Ehman and Ruth Schwenk
Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life by Denise Dubois Pass and Michelle Nietert
Life Can Be Good Again by Lisa Appelo
It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lisa Terkeurst
Hope When Life Unravels: Finding God When It Hurts by Adam Dooley
Restoration Year – a 365 Days Devotional by John Eldredge
All Things New by John Eldredge
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You can also listen to my interview with Ashley Moore on her podcast Be the Two where I speak about how to trust God in seasons of pain and adversity.
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Your Turn
How did you remain hopeful when you were under great pressure? If this article has helped you, I would be happy if you share it on social media and comment. Thanks!
We can remain hopeful because we can trust God’s good plan in our suffering – the plan to prosper us and perfect our faith and character. #suffering #encouragement #spiritualmaturity Share on X
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Hadassah, I’m so sorry for your loss. My deepest sympathies to you and your family. I find your strength and faith inspiring–wishing you peace and comfort as you grieve. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Ana! Yes, it is a hard season. I need extra strength and grace to carry on every day.
I really need this :’) Sometimes we have to just surrender and trust god’s plan, faith is everything when we go through hardship and remind us we never walk alone!
Thanks, Hannah! I am happy that the post encouraged you! Yes, trusting God when we go through difficult times is the best choice we can make.
So sorry for your loss! Thank you for the beautiful encouragement as you triumph over grief!
Thanks, Mysty! I am happy that you found the post encouraging!
Great encouragement from the word of God, and heartfelt, thank you.
Thank you, Sharon! I am glad that the post encouraged you!
2 Corinthians 4 is one of my favorite Bible chapters!
Encouraging reminders- thank you!
Thanks for your comment, Sarah! I am glad that the post has encouraged you!
I love how you’re depending on God’s Word to navigate you through your healing and encouraging others to do the same. So sorry for your loss Hadassah and prayers for you!
Thanks a lot, Traci! My loss is heartbreaking and difficult to bear at the moment but I am confident that with God’s help I will survive and have a life again.
Thank you for using your pain to bring hope to others, my friend. You are glorifying God! Sending so much love…
Thanks for your encouraging words, my dear friend! And for your support and love in this difficult time for me!
I’m so sorry for the loss of your husband. That would be one of the hardest things to go through. I’m deeply thankful to see God sustaining you through His Word.
Thanks a lot, Barbara! Yes, this is the hardest thing I am going through! I only hope on the Lord to give me the strength day by day to pass through this ordeal and great sorrow.
So sorry for your loss. Amazing hope in your post! Praying for you, my friend. Sharing on Pinterest and Twitter too. Keep writing as therapy, and I’m here for you. Hugs!
Thank you so much, my dear friend! Your support and prayers mean so much to me!