What About When Things May Not Get Better?

There’s a popular idea in our culture that you can take control of your fate through positive thinking and willpower. You see it on motivational posters and hear it in well-meaning phrases like, "Look on the bright side," or "It'll get better." But anyone who has walked through a season of deep suffering knows this simply isn't true. No amount of positive mantras or self-reliance can cut through the darkness of real pain.

This kind of hope is insufficient because it is placed in our own abilities or a change in our circumstances. And the truth is, circumstances might not change. The sadness might not go away. The wayward child might not come home. The health diagnosis might be permanent.

This is why our hope must be in Jesus. "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure," (Hebrews 6:19). This is not a flimsy wish or a fleeting feeling. It is a solid anchor that holds us steady when the storms of life beat against us.

Examining Our Assumptions About Biblical Stories

When we are suffering, we often look to the Bible for comfort, which is a great practice. But sometimes we focus on the resolutions instead of the journey. This can lead to a sense of confusion or even failure when our own stories don't end in the same way.

For example, when Christians are experiencing trials, we often point to Job, highlighting that he received more blessings in the end. But a reflection on his story acknowledges the deep suffering and theological wrestling that filled the vast majority of the book. His story is not a promise that our pain will be resolved with a greater outcome in this lifetime.

Similarly, we may point to Hannah as an example of persistent prayer leading to a child. While God can and does open barren wombs, we must be careful not to imply that every woman who prays earnestly will receive a child. This can lead to self-blame, causing a woman to wonder if she's simply not faithful enough. Hannah's story is a compassionate look at a woman who cried out her anguish to God, a raw example of lament.

Then there is the Apostle Paul's "thorn in the flesh." He prayed earnestly for the Lord to take his affliction away. But God's answer was not to remove the pain. Instead, He said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). The outcome was not what Paul hoped for, but through it, God’s power was demonstrated and Paul's faith was deepened.

Holding Tightly to the Ultimate Promise

The only thing we can truly depend on is Jesus loving us and being with us. We are not promised deliverance from suffering in this fallen world, but we have already been given the ultimate deliverance: freedom from sin's eternal consequences. On this side of heaven, our hope is in His constant presence. "Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me" (Psalm 23:4).

So, cry out to God about your heartbreaks and fears. He wants to hear them. Pray earnestly for the change you want to see. But hold your plans for the future in an open hand. With the other, hold tightly to Jesus, your anchor. It is in this surrender that we find the freedom of a hope that is firm and secure.

Pause and Ponder

• What specific circumstances or hopes are you holding onto so tightly that it’s causing you emotional or spiritual exhaustion?

• What is one small, practical step you can take today to surrender those circumstances to God?

• How can you actively remind yourself of Jesus's constant presence in the midst of your current season?

The ideas and inspiration for this post came straight from my heart. I love exploring faith and encouraging you to wonder. However, writing isn't exactly my superpower. So, to help bring these thoughts to life in a way that truly connects with you, I use AI as a writing assistant. My hope is always that the message resonates and encourages you on your journey.