I love the story of Ruth in the Bible. She lost so much. Her mother in law Naomi lost so much. But Ruth clung to an unknown Hope; she clung to a Song she felt within her. And in the midst of great loss, she traveled to a foreign land with a whisper of God’s goodness in her heart, a whisper she clung to in the midst of despair. And He was faithful to see her through.

And the story of Hannah, who suffered through daily pain and loss and ridicule. The Bible says she was deeply distressed and poured out her soul to the Lord. In the face of heartache, she turned her heart to God and He was faithful to mend her back together. He took her story of broken dreams and redeemed them into His plan for her life.

Some of us have been pummeled from loss after loss, broken dream after broken dream. Some of us are weary from day after day of tiny hopes deferred, tiny losses sustained. And some of us are struggling to understand the why behind brokenness and heartaches. What can our hearts trust amidst deep pain? What can we fix our eyes on to see us through broken days? The answer lies in the redeemed story of Ruth, in the mended-back-together story of Hannah.

In the midst of silent tears, in the midst of social media chatter, in the midst of the quiet hum of isolation, softly within our hearts, we can hear the answer . . . the ever-gripping song of Hope. When faced with unbearable heartache, worn down by jaded dreams, our voice still breaks and catches with the ever-gripping song of Hope. I can hear this song of hope, ever so quietly, holding our hearts together, tying us to each other, pointing us to the Cross; in the midst of our hurt, it keeps hold of us, gripped tight, and sees us through and helps us keep our heads up, looking to the One who can answer our heart’s song. Because He IS our song of Hope.

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

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. Romans 15:13

And because He has poured His never- ending Hope into our hearts, we can hold on through the trials. We can hold on through the broken hearts. We can hold on through the unthinkable losses. And we can sing the Song in our hearts, no matter how faint it might be, no matter how our voice might break and tremble with hurt and weariness, no matter how tightly we have to cling to it, we can know that it is there. He has placed it within us, the Hope of the Cross, the Hope of our redemption, the Hope of a mended-back-together heart. And He is faithful. And His goodness will see you through when your heart falters. And His promises will hold you up when you can’t stand on your own. And He will gently remind you of His song of Hope and He will renew your heart each day.