When you hear the hard news,
there are two diverging roads from which to choose.
One’s despair, but don’t go there. There is hope.

All of us will face the chilling, bitter winds of life. The lyrics above are from a song I wrote that reflects on my journey as a five-time cancer survivor. There are no easy answers when tragic events and disturbing diagnoses fall on us like a cold spring rain. We have a choice, however, to either remain awash in despair or press on in hope.

Though it’s dark and there’s fear,
light will dawn and soon the way will be clear.
Look above, for in God’s love there is hope.

Fear, anxiety, and depression can fill our hearts when we’re battered by the blows life delivers. Those are normal responses. And if you’re experiencing them, don’t beat yourself up. In time, by God’s grace, light and delight can return. Some life-giving words that I’ve clung to as life’s cold winds have threatened to topple me are, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).

Lift up your head, lift up your eyes,
walk by faith and not by sight.
Take a step, make a start,
let God’s hope fill your heart.

Paul wrote Romans 15:13 as a closing prayer for the church at Rome—a church he’d never visited. His letter was an introduction to the believers in Jesus there, written to help them understand why he believed God was “the source of hope.”

Like a jar made of clay,
bodies fail but one thing will not pass away.
It remains, for through the pain there is hope.

In another letter to the church at Corinth, Paul penned, “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The apostle possessed hope because of the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. Though he’d faced intense suffering (see 2 Corinthians 11:24-27), Paul knew that Christ had promised that those who believed in Him would be saved from sin and death: “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Those who believe in Jesus will also live with Him forever. Just as Christ was resurrected from the dead, so one day we can experience the hope of Easter as we receive our own transformed resurrection bodies: “Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength” (1 Corinthians 15:43).

Hope is found as the light
of God’s presence blazes in the darkest night.
When it’s dim, wait on Him, for there is hope.

We live in the darkness of a world tragically broken by our rebellion against God. And yet, we can experience hope and peace because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, which makes it possible for us to be “made right in God’s sight by faith” (Romans 5:1). Earlier in his letter, Paul wrote that “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord” (6:23).

Real hope begins with receiving the gift of salvation Jesus offers. We do this by simply expressing our faith to Him. If you believe in Christ and desire to receive life in Him, pray something like this:

Dear Jesus, I know that I’ve been far from You—lost in a hopeless state due to my sin and rebellion. I confess the wrong I’ve done against You and desire to receive the salvation You alone offer. I believe You came to earth, died on the cross for my sins, and rose again. You’re the One who provides true peace and hope by the power of Your resurrection. I praise You and surrender my whole life to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you prayed to receive salvation in Christ or want to know more, simply use the link below for more information and to connect with us so we can encourage you. Life will still offer cold winds and challenging times, but as you face them, you can now . . .

look above, for in God’s love there is hope. Tom Felten, Our Daily Bread author