Hopelessness is a serious and painful state of being. Sadly, if we are honest, many of us go through life with seasons of feeling hopeless, regardless of our age or personal circumstances. Mine came through the loss of my husband and the dreams we shared that crumbled with his death. I struggled to find meaning and purpose in the midst of the intense grief and loss of direction. In my desperation to fill that empty space, I often sat with my Bible open at random places, hoping with mustard seed faith that God would meet and soothe my crushed soul. Some days I sat staring with blurry eyes while tears ran off my chin, saturating the thin pages of my Bible. Gradually, I mustered enough mental space to read one, or two verses. The words entered my numb heart, echoing in the chambers with dull thuds. Yet, I felt I needed to force feed my soul. I had to fight against my internal desires to push the Words away, but something kept drawing me.
Months dragged by, and whilst the heaviness of grief was still there, the quiet and inner working of the Word of God, through His Holy Spirit, was opening my darkened eyes to see hope in His promises, and helping me to pray when I had no words to. Once again, God was performing surgery on my soul, restoring hope and reviving me from the pit of death back into the land of the living.
For the first time, I began to understand what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote in Romans 8:26-29,
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. …And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”
I couldn’t see it at the time, but even in my brokenness and weakness, the Holy Spirit was working through the Word and interceding on my behalf – working for my good, and unfolding God’s purposes for me, according to His will.
Over these recent years, God has been growing in me a deep dependence and love for His life-giving words. Through my interactions with the community, I meet women from cultures and circumstances very different from my own. As we share time together, and friendships grow, I often hear their own stories of hopelessness. I listen and am invited to enter into the dark places of their souls. I struggle to find my own words to offer the comfort or peace they yearn for. Instead, I quietly pray in my heart and ask the Holy Spirit to offer the same gentle comfort of His Word to them.
I was comforting a new friend who was fearing for the safety of her relatives in her home country, where the possession of a Bible is forbidden. I was prompted to share portions of the Psalms that had helped me pray through my own grief. She said to me one time in the midst of deep grief, anxiety and fear, “Nothing else is giving us comfort, except what you are sharing.” I found out that she had been using the scriptures to comfort her aunt. I began to see that The Word of God accomplishes His purposes and reaches beyond the neighbourhood into places I could never enter.
I have witnessed many such joys, as the Word of God has spoken into difficult circumstances, with precision and relevance. Hebrews 4:12-14 powerfully describes that the Word of God is living and active! As people read the Word, and learn the redemption story of God for humanity – from Genesis, through the prophets, to the gospels of the Incarnate Son (Hebrews 1:1-2) – they recognise that God truly desires a personal relationship with us. They discover God’s character in ways that show His authority and power, together with His tenderness and grace – such as His patience toward us (2 Peter 3:9). They can see how they are included into God’s plan for salvation that is offered to all who believe (Romans 1:16). They find sweet comfort and strength in the life-giving Word of God that speaks into situations where earthly wisdom cannot intervene (Psalm 19:7-10). The Word of God offers timeless teaching, gentle and assertive rebuke, and spiritual encouragement, to address misunderstandings, deceptions, or rebellion (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
As I live a life following Jesus, based upon the reading and embodiment of His Word, I hope that those walking with me can see the immense value and transformational impact it makes in every aspect of my being – it is the lamp we need for our feet and the light to our paths (Psalm 119:105). Indeed, the Word of God is hope to the hopeless.
Jane Sheppard, community engager with The Navigators
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