Don’t Lose Heart Or Hope

There are so many things that come against us in this earthly life. I know of some folks who are going through some tough times. Sometimes you just might want to give up. Let me encourage you NOT to give up. The tunnel may look dark, bleak, and foreboding, but there’s always light at the end of the tunnel.

I’m reminded of a hike my husband and I took some years ago. The old mountain road hadn’t been used in years. Ahead of us was what looked like a long, dark tunnel. We had our hiking gear, our walking sticks, but as you entered into the tunnel, you only saw complete darkness. With hiking sticks stretched out in front of us, we moved them from side to side to make sure we didn’t encounter some sleeping animal (which we didn’t!). We couldn’t see in front of our feet but we kept going, and finally we saw a little light ahead—the opening of the other end of the tunnel. We made it through the tunnel.

That experience and memory reminded me that there are others who, even today, can feel like they’re going through the darkness tunnel of their life. They could be starting over, having to figure out how to live, where to live, what to do next. That’s when we can’t give up. We can’t lose heart—or hope. The circumstances will try to squeeze hope out of our thoughts, out of our heart.

So, what do you do? You dig deep. You remind yourself that God loves you and cares for you, and He’s right there with you, yes, even in the dark tunnel. You repeat Psalm 23 to yourself, because even if it feels like the shadow of death in this valley or tunnel, there’s a way through, there are blessings ahead. Change your thoughts. Replace the negative ones with hope, with confidence Jesus is there with you, leading you to safety, and has something better ahead. This isn’t the end!

Let the words from Stephen Curtis Chapman’s song, Don’t Lose Heart, encourage you today. Don’t let your HOPE be squeezed out of your heart.

So don’t lose heart – Don’t you dare let go
I’ve been where you are, You are not alone
I know it gets dark, I know it gets hard
But we’re gonna make it home
So don’t lose heart!