Hope When Life Feels Impossible

This I write to you who are struggling today—to those who need encouragement to keep going. Struggles in life come in many different forms. It may be the loss of a loved one. Devastating news about your health or the health of someone close to you. Even financial troubles that crush us can feel impossible.

When my medical problems came, it was impossible to work. I felt helpless and hopeless, buried under medical bills, wondering how we would ever climb out of the hole. In that season, my faith turned me to Jesus. He once again became my strength in the middle of what felt impossible. Whatever your struggle looks like, one thing is certain. It hurts.

Sometimes, trials strike without warning. In an instant, they can knock the very life out of you and change everything forever. That was my story too. One day I started life as usual. Then I was suddenly forced to face a “new normal”. Something I didn’t ask for and certainly didn’t want.

When I first heard those words, I wasn’t ready. Accept it? No way. I was determined to recover completely. This was never going to be my normal. It couldn’t be, because it didn’t feel normal at all. Yes, it was new, but in my heart, it felt unacceptable. I wanted my life back. Not just pieces of it, but all of it.

I had a brain hemorrhage. In an instant it happened and changed our lives. My husband David and I had been celebrating our anniversary out of state. We were packing to go home to our kids. We had to get ready for our annual New Years Eve party at our house. This stopped everything in an instant our lives changed forever.

I still remember the first therapy session after brain surgery. The therapist gently helped me sit up on the edge of the table then let go of me. In an instant, my whole body leaned hard to the left, and I toppled down onto the mat. That’s when reality hit me, I wasn’t just weak, I had lost my entire left side. My arm and leg still had feeling, but they refused to obey me. I couldn’t even sit on my own, let alone dream about walking.

The mountain in front of me felt impossibly high. Normal seemed so far away, like it had run far out of my reach. And yet, deep inside, my faith was unshaken. I clung to the hope that I would get well. I was determined to believe this wasn’t the end of my story. I told myself again and again, “I will get back to normal. I will not give up.”

But as the days of therapy turned into weeks, then months reality began to set in. I celebrated progress, but I also had to grieve what was lost. My “new normal” was real, and now it was mine. Everyone, at some point, faces a moment when they must accept reality, no matter how hard it is. This was my moment. My faith was strong, and I held tight to God’s promise that He would never leave me nor forsake me. Still, grief took its place. I mourned the loss of my arm’s use the way someone mourns the loss of a dear loved one. Sometimes, I still do and that’s okay. Grief is normal. Over time, these losses became part of what my new normal looked like.

I got home and started venturing out into the world again. I noticed the struggles of the people around me. I became more of a people watcher. Seeing the pain, the worry, the heaviness on their faces and in their eyes. I would wonder if they had faith, if they knew Jesus. If they had someone to lean on, to talk with. How can anyone get through something so hard without hope? Without a loving Father to lean on?

When I got the chance I shared my faith because I couldn’t imagine facing devastating things without it. Even when I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t do much of anything for myself. I was still capable of encouraging and cheering others on. I had a message of hope. I knew that if they came to the same faith I had, life would be bearable, maybe even easier. That was the best gift and I could offer. Whenever I saw someone hurting, I would share hope when the opportunity arose.

Jesus once spoke to a woman at a well.

John 4:13-14: Whoever drinks of this water shall thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

When I was facing the aftermath of my brain hemorrhage, I felt exhausted and overwhelmed. I remember lying in that hospital bed, my body weak and my left side refusing to move. I felt completely drained, like I had nothing left to give. In those moments, I clung to the promise that Jesus offers living water. Strength and hope that never runs dry.

When my circumstances felt impossible. I sensed His presence filling me, giving me courage to face another therapy session, another step, another day. I felt like I was running on empty. I was also thirsty for hope. This verse reminded me that Jesus offers a kind of life that doesn’t run dry. His living water is more than physical. It refreshes our hearts and souls. It gives us everlasting life. It reminds us that no matter how heavy the burden. No matter how impossible the situation, He is beside us, lifting us. He is giving courage and making a way when we see none.

Even when I thought my life was over, His living water gave me hope and courage to keep going. In that helpless, scary moment, I felt something inside me that gave me hope. That’s what Jesus’ living water does, it doesn’t just fill a cup, it fills your heart. It gives courage when you feel weak. Peace when fear wants to take over, and strength when you think you have none. No matter how impossible your struggles feel. He is with you, holding you, and making a way forward even when you can’t see it.

John 3:36: He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he who believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.

These verses remind us why faith in Jesus is so important. It gives us life, hope, and a Father who loves us deeply.

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He first loved us. He loves every single person no matter what we are like or the color of our skin. He loves us all even though we are rebellious and maybe even shake our fists at him. He loves us enough to come in flesh to this earth. To be born a baby and live a sinless life.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

God had his Son leave his side in heaven. He came down to earth, confined himself in Mary’s womb, and became a human being. He did this so that He could live among us. Show us he was a perfect lamb without spot. He never did anything wrong. He was a man who was tempted in every way we have been. Still he did nothing wrong. This makes him a perfect friend understanding our feelings, weaknesses and our temptations. Understanding the pains of ordinary living. Anything we are going through no matter how bad. God so loved the world, you and me. He gave his Son.

The sole purpose of Jesus’ life was being born to die. God loved the world, each of us, so much that He gave His Son. Jesus’ life was for Him to die for us. To become the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Your sins and mine.

II Corinthians 5:21 For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

God is perfectly holy and can’t have a relationship with those who are unclean. That’s why He sent Jesus, His Son, to be nailed to a cross. He took your sins and mine and carried them Himself. Why? Because God loves us and does not want us to perish.

Does this mean we will never sin again? Of course not. But it does mean we have a loving friend in Jesus. He has taken all our sin—past, present, and future, so we can be forgiven and free.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

This reminds us sin must be paid for, either by us or by someone perfect. Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us. When He died on the cross, He was separated from God because God can’t be around sin. He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” carrying the full weight of our sin. The separation was the cost of our sin. But because He paid it we don’t have to.

The good news is this: Jesus did it for you. Your sins are paid for. Not by you, but by Him. All you need to do is believe, trust in Him and receive this free gift He has given. Jesus came as a baby and lived about 33 years on earth without sin. He was beaten almost beyond recognition, and died for you. He was buried, but God raised Him from the dead. He did all of this for you and for me. That is an incredible love, wouldn’t you agree?

Because He carried the heaviest burden, our sin, we can trust Him to carry the daily burdens of our hearts. He reminds us in this invitation.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

What a Savior, one who doesn’t pile on more weight, but instead lifts it from us. Our burdens become so much lighter to bear, when we have Jesus to bear them with us.

This means we don’t have to carry the weight of worry, fear, or sorrow alone. Jesus doesn’t just see our struggles. He cares deeply about them, and He invites us to lay them at His feet.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.

This means we don’t have to carry the weight of worry, fear, or sorrow alone. Jesus doesn’t just see our struggles. He cares deeply about them, and He invites us to lay them at His feet.

If you have put your trust in him you can talk with him everyday, anytime. Out loud or in your mind. He knows your every thought.

When you feel like no one understands, remember He promises not just to listen. He promises to sustain us through every impossible time.

Psalm 55:22: Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. 

When the world feels heavy and circumstances seem impossible. He fills us with strength, peace, and purpose that no one else can. Faith in Him isn’t just a promise for the future. It’s a source of living water that sustains us in every struggle. In every lonely room, every day when recovery from whatever situation feels too hard to bear.

We don’t have to figure it all out or fix everything ourselves. Our part is to trust and release it into His hands. His part is to carry, strengthen, and guide us through. Every little and big part of your life is important to Him. You think it is silly to ask an all-powerful God for something so simple. Something as simple as to pick something off the floor and not fall. If it is important to you, it is just as important to him. Maybe even more important to Him because you asked His help. He knows and He understands. Trust Him.

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