From Depression to Finding God’s JoySample

Keeping Hope Alive

When the Coronavirus pandemic hit my corner of the world in March 2020, I knew my mental health might be in trouble. As a single woman living alone, I felt particularly vulnerable to depression and loneliness, and I feared I might be tempted to return to the dark of isolation and depression. I meditated on the biblical account of Jesus’ death and resurrection that Easter.

I realized that I heard so much about Good Friday and Easter Sunday every year, but I found myself thinking about Saturday. I wondered what the disciples felt on that day. They had put their hope in Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah. As they watched their Rabbi breathe his last, their hope must have vanished. When the sun rose over Golgotha on Saturday morning, did it only bring dark memories of what happened the previous day? Were they alone and isolated? Did they gather to share stories and weep over their Rabbi’s death?

I am so thankful that the story doesn’t end on Saturday. As the disciples gathered on Sunday, imagine how the mood in the room shifted when Jesus suddenly appeared. I’m sure they could not contain their disbelief and joy! How wonderful that, like the disciples, we can have hope at any time in any place simply because Jesus lives!

So many times in my life, I’ve failed to connect with the hope God offers me and focused, instead, on circumstances that seem hopeless. In Romans 15:13, Paul writes, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Our God gives us hope, joy, and peace as we trust in Him. That can be the tricky part. Surrendering our worries and the hard parts of our lives is easier said than done. It’s one thing to trust Him on the good days when things are going our way; it is quite another to trust Him with the scary diagnosis, frightening current events, or the wayward child.

And this verse is not just talking about a small ration of hope; it’s talking about so much hope that it overflows! This kind of hope is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. When I let my circumstances dictate my hope, I will never be filled with peace and joy and overflowing with hope. As I set my eyes on Jesus, I can experience grateful anticipation for the days ahead. My present reality may feel like Saturday, but Jesus is alive, and Sunday’s on the way!

Getting Real

• Think of a time when it felt like hope was gone. What happened? What did you learn through that experience?

• Reread Romans 15:13. What are some ways you can connect with the hope God offers?