If you’ve ever gone through a season of anxiety, depression, or the like, or you’re going through one right now, you’ll want to hear what we can learn from the book of Lamentations about how to find hope in suffering.

Listen Now

(Episode length: 30 mins)

Show Notes

Main idea: God wants to cultivate in you a hope that is fixed on him.

Right knowledge of God leads to hope in God

  • You can express your frustration and confusion to God over how he chooses to execute his purposes
  • What we think of God affects how we live

God’s faithfulness encourages ours

  • When you’re in a dark pit of anxiety or depression, the knowledge that God’s love is fixed on you and is not dependent on what you do drive you to hope in his deliverance
  • No matter how terrible today is, God’s mercies start anew with the rising of the sun each day

Hope is developed through waiting

  • If we’re thinking like God, we should be praying, “Change me, not my circumstances”
  • We can choose to live in despair, or we can choose to live with hope

Hope is grounded in eternity

  • Though we are grieved today, that grief will not last forever, because he is a compassionate God and great is his faithfulness
  • God has set his sights on loving you, and his love that never stops is abundant
  • Ultimately, our hope in Christ is rooted in knowing we’ll spend eternity with Christ

Reflection Questions

  1. What comes to mind when you think about God?
  2. We should look to God for our hope, happiness, significance, and security. Where have you misplaced your hope and trust? (Maybe in your kids’ ability to behave or perform in school, your job or a project you’re working on, or affirmation from your spouse, family, or friends.)
  3. What are some ways God has shown you his faithfulness in the past 24 hours? In the past week? (Think of the groceries you just bought, the car you’re driving, your health, your paycheck, your kids, and most importantly your relationship with Jesus.)
  4. With your previous answers in mind, now what comes to mind when you think about God?

Download a full transcript of this episode.

This is part of a podcast I do for group leaders at my church. Browse the archives for more.

Published by Grayson Pope

Hey, there. My name is Grayson. I’m a husband and father of four. I serve as a writer and editor with Prison Fellowship and as the Managing Web Editor of Gospel-Centered Discipleship.