When Hope Is Stolen

Today’s Reflection

Romans 15:13 NLT “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”

“Expect disappointment and you’ll never be disappointed.” That line from Spider-Man: No Way Home mirrored my entire childhood. Every time I grasped for hope, it was taken from me. It was as if hope was stolen before I ever understood the word.

There were times I came home afraid—terrified, hiding, unsure if I was safe. My home, the place that should’ve been a refuge, became a source of trauma. Even the joy I found in church—hearing about a loving Father who would protect me—was stolen the moment I returned home. It felt like every ounce of hope was violently stripped away.

I reached the end of myself. One day, I sat on my bed, knife in hand, ready to end it all. I couldn’t see a future. I couldn’t feel peace. I didn’t believe God saw me—until I prayed what I thought would be my last prayer.

That’s when something shifted. In the silence, I wasn’t alone. I sensed Someone in the room—Jesus. I couldn’t see Him, but I knew He was there. And for the first time, I experienced hope.

Not hope that my situation would suddenly change—but hope that I wouldn’t have to walk through it alone. Hope that there was more to my story. Hope that the God I had heard about in church didn’t just save the world—He saved me.

Sometimes, we’re convinced hope is fragile—that it shatters under pain, loss, or fear. But biblical hope isn’t based on circumstances. It’s anchored in Christ. He never changes. He never leaves. And He always sees you—even in your darkest moments.

Romans 15:13 calls God the source of hope. That means hope doesn’t start in us—it starts in Him.

Not a trickle, not a maybe—an overflow.

That day, I didn’t live for myself, or even for the people I loved. I lived for Him. Because if Jesus could die a brutal death for me, I could choose to live for Him.

Even when things didn’t get easier, my hope grew stronger. Because Jesus walked with me, every step of the way.

Personal Application

Are you placing your hope in circumstances—or in Christ?

Is there an area of your life that feels hopeless? How might that change if you believed Jesus was walking through it with you?

What would it look like today to trust the God who sees you?

Prayer

Father, There are times I can’t see a way out. Times when hope feels like a distant memory. But You are the source of hope. Even when everything around me seems broken, You never change. Fill me with joy and peace—not because things are perfect, but because I trust in You. Let hope overflow in me. Thank You for never leaving my side. Thank You that my story isn’t over.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.