There is a hope that lifts my weary head,
A consolation strong against despair,
That when the world has plunged me in its deepest pit,
I find the Savior there!
Through present sufferings, furture fears,
He whispers courage in my ear.
For I am safe in everlasting arms,
And they will lead me home.

~ There is a Hope, by Stuart Townend and Mark Edwards

Hope. Sometimes this emotion of confident expectation can feel elusive in our lives. I know that when I am discouraged and feel like I am in a pit of despair, it’s difficult to think about hope. It’s hard to see anything beyond the darkness that I am experiencing.

My mood has been up and down recently – more so down than up. I’m on a new medication to augment the main medicine that I take for treatment-resistant depression. I thought it was helping, but now I am not so sure.

Besides feeling depressed and somewhat hopeless, I’ve been feeling so tired. Just weary. This isn’t new, unfortunately. I’ve been struggling with this for years. It’s like I live my life in a sort of fog, where I can’t quite get a deep breath or a sense of being fully awake and alert.

I need to remind myself that I have so many things to be grateful for! A God who loves me unconditionally, a caring husband, a healthy and happy son, a supportive family, a church where we can grow, to name a few of them. God has also provided a home for us, food to eat, clothing to wear, transportation, and so much more. And yet when I am feeling discouraged, it’s almost like I am blinded to these positive things. I have such a hard time focusing on them!

But as much as it seems like there is not a light at the end of the tunnel, this just isn’t true. There IS hope! An eternal hope that can never be taken away. The hope of my relationship with Jesus Christ, and of all the spiritual blessings that I possess in Him. Although I often feel alone during times like these, the truth is that my Savior is right here with me. Not only is He in this pit with me, but His Spirit lives inside of me! These powerful truths are enough to help me lift my weary head, gaze upon His face, and rest confidently in His everlasting arms.

Photo by James McGill on Unsplash