Keep a Grip on Hope

Lamentations 3:55–57 (NLT)
“But I called on your name, Lord, from deep within the pit. You heard me when I cried, ‘Listen to my pleading! Hear my cry for help!’ Yes, you came when I called; you told me, ‘Do not fear.’”

“Get me out of this!”
That was the only prayer I could manage in one of the darkest moments of my life. A failed relationship had left me broken—and if I’m being real, I probably should’ve seen it coming. I ignored every red flag and caution light because when youth, immaturity, and a desperate need for attention collide, it’s easy to fall for the wrong person and even easier to fall apart afterward.

He was a charming bodybuilder, the kind who knew exactly what to say and when to say it. He gave me the affection I was starving for, and before I knew it, I was all in. But the truth is, not every connection is a covering. And not every relationship is from God.

Looking back, I realize I can’t even blame him for the crash—I knew better. I just didn’t do better. My grandmother used to say, “A hard head makes a soft behind.” I never liked hearing it as a child, but I’ve come to understand what she meant. When you’ve been warned, taught, or told what’s wise, and you still choose the opposite—well, that’s on you.

Romans 1:22 (NLT) sheds light on this truth: “Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.”
That was me. Thinking I knew better, thinking I was in control, thinking I could handle it. But wisdom isn’t about what you know in your head—it’s about what you apply to your life. And the only way to gain real wisdom is to be rooted in God’s Word.

For a long time, I thought that accepting Jesus Christ as Lord would exempt me from pain and struggle. But life taught me otherwise. And more importantly, the Word of God showed me that tribulation builds character. That storms can produce strength. That even in the pit, God is close.

He tells us over and over again to be strong and courageous. And if you’re not already? Life will train you. Trials will either break you or build you—and with God, they always build.

I’ve heard people say, “Things can’t get any worse.” But Lamentations 3:30 (NLT) reminds us, “Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them and accept the insults of their enemies.” Why? Because the worst is never the worst when God is in it. He will not leave you. He will not forsake you. And He will not leave you defenseless.

When life throws you hard things—loss, heartbreak, rejection, failure—you need to know you’re not going through it alone. That kind of confidence in God’s presence can change how you suffer. It doesn’t erase the pain, but it gives it purpose. And it gives you peace.

So hold on. Keep your grip on hope. You may be in the pit, but you’re not staying there. Cry out to God. He hears you. He’s coming close. And He’s already saying, “It’s going to be all right.”

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

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