Encouraging You to Find Hope in the Storm

Your world can shatter in an instant. Sarah knew this all too well when her father died unexpectedly, her marriage began falling apart, and she lost her job—all within a few months. Sitting in her car as rain poured down around her, she prayed through tears: "God, where are you? Do you even see me down here?"

What happened next wasn't a dramatic miracle with heavenly spotlights. Instead, an unexplainable peace washed over her—God's gentle whisper saying, "I will never leave you. I will never abandon you." Her problems didn't vanish overnight. But something more valuable appeared: hope. Not wishful thinking, but profound confidence that she wasn't alone in her storm.

We're often looking for a divine magician when what we need is a divine healer. Psalm 34:18 reminds us that "the Lord is close to the brokenhearted," suggesting that our deepest pain might be where God draws nearest. The healing Sarah experienced wasn't instant, but it was real—the kind that transforms you from the inside out.

Maybe you're weathering your own perfect storm today. Perhaps you too have whispered desperate prayers, wondering if anyone hears. This five-minute reminder is for you: Hope has a name, and His name is Jesus. He's writing your story even now, walking with you through every valley. You were made for more than just surviving these storms—you were made for a hope that outlasts them.

What storms are you facing today? Remember that sometimes God's presence feels less like lightning and more like unexpected peace in your broken places. He's closer than you think.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Well, all right, you found us the 5-Minute
Encouraging Podcast.
My name's Eric.
This is my friend, heatherHowdy, encouraging you over the
next five minutes, just sharingsome thoughts and trying to
inspire you today to stayencouraged.
If you need more encouragementat the end of the five minutes,
you can always listen toVirginia's Home for
Encouragement, wper, and ifyou're out of the listening area

(00:24):
, from wherever on the planet,you can download the W-P-E-R app
.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
If you're feeling weary today, like if life has
thrown more at you than youthink you can handle, lean in,
because today, eric and I wantto remind you of something very
powerful Hope is not lostbecause it has a name.
Hope has a name and his name isJesus Amen.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
A few years ago, our friend Sarah went through the
hardest season of her life.
Everything seemed fine on theoutside, she had a great job,
loving family, but then, withinthe span of a few months,
everything crumbled.

Speaker 2 (00:58):
That was awful, and it's hard, and it's even harder
when things seem to pile on allat once.

Speaker 1 (01:03):
And it did.
It piled up quickly, and maybeyou've experienced this in your
own life, where things just seemto unravel from minute to
minute.
Sarah's father passed awayunexpectedly, her marriage
started to fall apart and then,to top it all off, she lost her
job.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
Literally.

Speaker 1 (01:20):
One storm after another.

Speaker 2 (01:22):
I mean that's hard to go through.
All of it seems like it's justall at one time.

Speaker 1 (01:26):
So Sarah sitting in her car, rains pouring down and
it had to be raining right, ofcourse it did.
She felt like she couldn't goon, and maybe you've been there
as well.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, soshe prayed through tears,
through sadness, through thesorrow.
God, where are you?
Do you even see me down here?
You ever prayed a prayer likethat in your life Multiple times

(01:50):
maybe.
Something happened, and itwasn't a lightning bolt, the
rain didn't stop immediately andthe sun came out, and it wasn't
a big booming voice from theclouds.
Sometimes we just love to heara clear voice, speak to me.
It was peace, just peace, god'speace, a stillness Sarah could
not explain.
It felt like a whisper in herheart.

(02:10):
I will never leave you.
I will never abandon you.

Speaker 2 (02:14):
It's just like God to do that right.
Not a sledgehammer, but agentle reminder that he's right
there in the muck, in the mess,in the mire of life.

Speaker 1 (02:24):
So of course, Sarah didn't wake up the next morning
and everything's back to youknow, sunshine and problems all
solved.
It never works like that.

Speaker 2 (02:32):
Nope, it never does, but that's what we want.
But, I mean, you know, in thatcase we're looking for a genie
or a magician right, but God isa healer and healing takes time.

Speaker 1 (02:41):
What Sarah did wake up with was hope, a confidence
she could not explain.
She knew that even in themiddle of a storm that felt like
it was getting bigger andbigger and bigger she wasn't
alone.
He was there with her.
Did healing happen?
Yes, god restored a whole lotof what she'd lost.
It wasn't instant, but it wasreal.

Speaker 2 (03:02):
Yes, yes, that's what we're looking for is the real
healing.
And maybe you're in a stormright now that just feels like
it keeps getting bigger andbigger and bigger, and you might
be wondering if God even seesyou or if he even cares.
Can we remind you of somethinghe does?
God cares, yes, he does.
If you look in his word, inPsalm 34, 18,.

(03:22):
It says the Lord is close tothe brokenhearted and saves
those who are crushed in spirit.

Speaker 1 (03:27):
That means in your deepest pain.
He is closer than ever.

Speaker 2 (03:32):
We were never promised an easy life Again.
In his word, john 16, 33 saysIn this world you will have
trouble.
But that verse goes on to saybut, but God, right, but take
heart, I have overcome the world.
So if all you can do today iswhisper a prayer, maybe through
tears or just mumbles, just likeSarah did, that's enough,

(03:56):
because hope isn't about what wecan see, it's about who we
trust.
And Jesus is still writing yourstory.

Speaker 1 (04:04):
That he is.
He's writing your story becauseyou were made for more.

Speaker 2 (04:08):
So, before we go, can we pray over you, jesus, for
the one listening right now, whofeels lost, who feels forgotten
?
Remind them that you are near,fill their heart with hope.
You are the God who restores,who redeems, who never leaves.
God, may they feel yourpresence today and know that

(04:29):
hope is alive.
Thank you so much for yourgrace, amen.

Speaker 1 (04:32):
Amen.
Hey, if this encouraged youtoday, would you share it with
someone who may need to hear itand remember?
Anytime you need encouragement,you can listen to Virginia's
Home for Encouragement, wper.

Speaker 2 (04:44):
And if you are outside the listening area, you
can always download the WPER app, and you can find direct links
on our website, wperorg.