We Had Hoped...

Key Points

After Jesus’ death, His disciples were devastated—paralyzed by sorrow and unmet expectations.

Like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, we often walk away from hope without realizing that Jesus is walking with us.

The disciples hoped for a political savior—not a suffering servant.

Jesus often doesn’t meet expectations, but exceeds them by meeting our deepest need.

True hope is not in a situation, a miracle, or a dream fulfilled, but in the unchanging character of God.

We must learn to hope in what we cannot yet see.

Jesus didn’t fix their circumstances—He walked with them, listened, and taught them the Scriptures.

He led them back to the truth of the prophets, reminding them it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer.

When Jesus is our hope, we no longer walk away—we return to Jerusalem or the place of peace.

Discussion

Think of a time in your life when something didn’t go the way you expected—what did that moment reveal about where your hope was rooted?

Have you ever emotionally or spiritually distanced yourself from God after disappointment or loss? What helped you return—or what’s keeping you from returning now?

Can you recall a moment when Jesus was walking with you, but you didn’t recognize Him at the time? What changed when you realized He had been with you the whole time?

Where do you go when you’re grieving or confused? Do you run to distractions, isolation, people, or God? How can you begin to invite Jesus into that space more intentionally?

Is your hope in Jesus—or in something you want Him to do? What would it look like for you to shift your hope from a specific outcome to Jesus Himself?

Application

Name your disappointment to God instead of pretending it doesn’t hurt. Honest confession is the first step toward healing and restored hope.

Stay in Scripture, especially when your emotions feel louder than truth. God’s Word grounds you when everything else feels uncertain.

Talk to Jesus, even if you don’t feel His presence. He’s walking with you, even when you can’t see Him.

Choose community when you feel like isolating. Go back to “Jerusalem”—the place where God’s people are gathered.

Shift your hope from outcomes to the One who holds your future. Let Jesus be enough, even when nothing else makes sense.