Strength 2026
Strength in Hope
Sunday, April 26, 2026
When reality doesn’t match what we’ve been hoping for, it can force us into a difficult place. We are faced with a choice—either to press on or to give up the fight for what we believed in because has become too painful.
Sometimes it feels easier to just say the fight isn’t worth it. But when we give up in the spirit, we give the enemy an opportunity to take ground.
There is a difference, though, between giving up because we lose hope and giving up because we trust God to be faithful to finish what He started—not us.
Discussion Point #1: Biblical hope is not just wishing for something to happen—it is the confident, joyful expectation of good based on God’s promises. What is the difference between biblical hope and wishful thinking?
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) 1Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Romans 15:13 (NIV) 13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Biblical hope is rooted in who God is—not in what we currently see.
Discussion Point #2: How do we continue to stand and “fight” in hope and faith when circumstances are difficult?
Romans 12:12 (NIV) 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
We fight through faith-filled prayer. Even in the darkness of a situation, there is hope. Even in brokenness, there is hope. Even in despair, there is hope.
Psalm 56:8–13 (AMP)
8You have taken account of my wanderings;
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not recorded in Your book?
9Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call;
This I know, that God is for me. [Rom 8:31]
10In God, whose word I praise,
In the Lord, whose word I praise,
11In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
12Your vows are binding upon me, O God;
I will give thank offerings to You.
13For You have rescued my soul from death,
Yes, and my feet from stumbling,
So that I may walk before God
In the light of life.
Even in our deepest pain, God sees us. When we cry out in despair, He keeps track of every tear—we are not forgotten, and we are not alone. Even in the darkest moments, He is still there.
Discussion Point #3: Sometimes in our lowest moments, it can be hard to believe that God still cares for us. In those moments, we can begin to place limits on His love—thinking there are places or situations where He won’t reach. But how deep does God’s love for us really go?
It goes deeper than we can imagine—even into the depths of hell.
Even in despair, even in depression, He is there.
Psalm 139:8-10 (AMP)
8If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), behold, You are there. [Rom 11:33]
9If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will take hold of me.
God is saying: hold on. Don’t let go, because I have not let go of you.
In our despair, God is still God.
In our brokenness, God is still there.
In loss, in pain, in uncertainty—He remains.
So we hold on to HOPE.