Special Announcement

Friends, over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing short excerpts from my new book, When Scars Become Stories. I’m so excited to offer these words of hope, encouragement, and healing with you ahead of the book’s official launch.

Grief is a lifelong journey, and we all need support as we walk a road no one ever chooses. My prayer is that these words would begin to light a small fire of hope within your heart today—and remind you that you are not alone.

The Healing Power of Hope

I’ve often thought that grief can feel like a heavy shadow that refuses to lift. In the early days of loss, it may seem impossible to imagine a future where happiness could exist again. Every breath feels weighted, every step exhausting. Yet even in the deepest valleys, God plants something that has the power to keep us moving forward: hope.

Hope is not denial of our pain, nor is it a shallow optimism that ignores reality. True hope is rooted in the promises of God, promises that don’t shift with our circumstances. It is the steady assurance that this sorrow is not the end of our story.

For me, hope became a lifeline in the days after my daughter’s death. The ache of her absence was unbearable, yet the thought that I would one day see her again gave me strength to endure. I began to realize that hope doesn’t erase grief—it gives it a new dimension.  

Sometimes hope appears in small, quiet ways. It shows up in the beauty of a spring morning after a sleepless night, in a gentle word from a friend, or in the strength to make it through one more day. Other times, hope feels bold and unshakable, lifting our eyes from the pain of this world to the glory of eternity. Both forms of hope are gifts. Both remind us that God has not left us in despair but has placed His promises like anchors for our souls.

Of course, there are days when hope feels far away. The darkness of grief can cloud our vision, and we may wonder if we will ever feel light again. In those moments, we are reminded that hope is not something we manufacture on our own—it is something God gives. Romans 15:13 declares, “May 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.” Hope is a divine gift, poured into us by the Spirit, steadying us when we cannot steady ourselves.

The healing power of hope does not erase our tears, but it gives those tears meaning. It reminds us that love never dies, that life is stronger than death, and that God is faithful to His promises. With hope, we can take one step at a time, trusting that even in our sorrow, God is leading us toward a future filled with His presence and peace.

In the end, hope is not about forgetting our grief but about walking through it with the knowledge that this is not the final chapter. Grief and hope can dwell in the same heart. Grief honors the depth of our love; hope honors the depth of God’s promises. Together, they carry us forward.