I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” (Lamentations 3:20-24)
Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love. For he does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow. (Lamentations 3:32,33)
Read: Lamentations 3, Hebrews 1, Psalms 102:1-28, Proverbs 26:21-22
Relate: I have been in a long season of healing, most likely because I experienced a long season of grief. God restored me, yet he is also continually restoring me. Like the author of Lamentations, there are awful times I will never forget. I grieved over losses, and at times I grieve them anew. Healing has been a process.
Several years ago, my ability to hope in the faithful love of the LORD dwindled to almost nothing. I desperately struggled and grasped at my waning faith. The text says, “Yet I still dare to hope…” Hope in the hurt takes courage. Believing is a risk because you become vulnerable while broken. You are saying, “I trust you. I trust you are faithful and merciful.” Those are hard and bold words to utter in the middle of grief. They are words I could not utter with confidence. I was afraid to believe and be wrong because I feared the pain of disappointment. I came to realize, I could hold my hurt and grief or I could dare to hope.
React: When I hit a low point, and approached God with a heart of repentance for my lack of trust, God was faithful, compassionate, and unfailing. Although a majority of the healing was completed a couple years ago, this year I have been reminded not of the grief, but of the hope. “Unfailing love” are the two words that have jumped from the scriptures to my heart again and again. Maybe I have needed to remember that the experience of grace, compassion, and unfailing love is new every morning. God is faithful, even when I am not.
Will you dare to hope when grief is great?
Respond:
God, I am so grateful for your faithfulness. You hold me and provide for me. I know you have always been there. You do not abandon me. You are all I need, even when it hurts. I pray you will give me courage to always hope in you. Amen.
THE RIVER WALK 
Amen. I will dare to hope even in troubled times.
Beautiful- My Uncle Passed away a couple of days ago. Your post is right on time!
I am so glad to have stopped by and read this beautiful post, It was said that our pain is our greatest ministry, and and I thank you for sharing.I’m too am a work in progress, working through past grief. Though I’m learning to lean into the Sword more and more that I may become more transparent before Him. It is very much a process, and it is my hope that although I may not be compltetley restored, that I will remain steadfast in my walk and not give ip on the faith. Aloha and God Bless
God’s timing is IMPECCABLE…I’m on this subject right now on my blog 🙂 Thanks for the encouragement!
This is wonderfully worded and a reminder of the light that is Jesus. That His hope doesn’t ever disappoint. But you’re right–it takes courage to believe that. And bravery isn’t something I can ever conjure up on my own. The Holy Spirit has to be the One who renews and restores His hope. Thanks for this.
I hope I will…
Hope takes courage. So true. Thank you for sharing your journey to remind us we all walk the same road. Like you, I thank God for His faithfulness–and for vantage points from which to look back and see the healing that has happened.
Your article is typically describing my current thoughts , beautifully written .
Reblogged this on Olumurewa Dunmade's blog.
I have been so overwhelmed with all the loss.
Then I lost my phone and wallet ($ I had been trying to save). Alone most of the time, in an empty apartment. And then our special needs teen son’s facility director accusses us of the unthinkable. Just when you think it can’t get worse. My daughter, whom I protected by sending my son away…now is being untruthful to her counselor…in our new state away from all family and friends. And CYFD is involved. And my medical disabilities of course were affected by all the stress.
I stopped writing. I stopped everything.
Maybe I needed the rest.
But I think it turned into a total lack of faith…to DARE to hope.
But then again, maybe I have gotten to the end of my rope and tied a knot in it and hung on.
I am still here. Still…somehow…waking up each morning…willing to go through the healing process one more day…daring to hope.
Your post was so good. What I needed to hear, even at months later…God is right on time.
I’m sorry to hear about all you are going through. I am glad you are holding on! Keep holding on. I’m praying for you and your situation. Thanks for sharing your heart.
There’s some powerful stuff here: ‘The text says, “Yet I still dare to hope…” I was afraid to believe and be wrong because I feared the pain of disappointment. I came to realize, I could hold my hurt and grief or I could dare to hope.’ Beautiful! Thank you!