When Hope Was Absent

There was a time in my life when someone told me I didn’t have any hope and he was right.

But then I found Christ, or, more accurately, He found me.

What changed everything?
Faith.

Not a shallow faith based on feelings or circumstances but a faith forged in the fires of trials, troubles, and tests. Each hardship I faced, each burden I carried, was met by God’s steady hand and His unchanging Word. Over time, my worries weren’t just lessened—they were lifted. I began to realize that in every trial, God was there, guiding me through the storm. His Word became my anchor. His promises became my light. (References: James 1:2-4, Psalm 23:4)

The Tapestry of Trials

Looking back, it was like a tapestry was being woven—one that I couldn’t yet see from the front. All I could see were the knots and the frayed edges. But God saw the masterpiece He was creating. He knew the threads to weave, the colors to use, the loops to make. And even with all the knots, it was beautiful.

I vividly remember one particularly turbulent season when I listened, over and over again, to a teaching on Romans 5:4:

“Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

It struck me deeply. The fire I thought would consume me wasn’t meant to destroy me. It was refining me. If I persevered, my character would be shaped—and with that character would come real, lasting hope. (Reference: Romans 5:3-5)

The Blessing in the Struggle

Struggle isn’t just something we endure—it’s something God often uses to bless and transform us.

In Genesis 32:24-30, we read about Jacob wrestling with God. He fought all night long, refusing to let go until he received a blessing. In that struggle, Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, meaning “he struggles with God.”

He walked away with a limp—a constant reminder of that encounter—but he also walked away changed. He received not only a blessing, but a new identity given by God Himself.

If we try to avoid struggle, we risk missing the very blessings that God intends to bring through it. The battle shapes us. The hardship transforms us. And through it all, God is at work—redefining us, refining us, and making us new. (Reference: Genesis 32:22-32)

Faith Triumphs in Trouble

Romans 5 speaks directly to the heart of anyone facing a trial:

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

Because we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. Justification means being aligned—aligned with Christ. It’s a right standing, a solid foundation, a permanent place secured by His sacrifice. Before Christ, peace with God was elusive. But through Jesus, the gap was closed.

Through faith in Him, we not only have peace but also access to His grace every single day. And because of that, we can rejoice—not a flimsy rejoicing, but a triumph, a boasting in what God has done. (Reference: Ephesians 2:8-9)

Faith Requires Our Obedience

Following Christ didn’t mean that my life became instantly easy or that God “fixed” everything for me. With each season, I had a choice—to listen for His voice through Scripture, to seek Him in prayer, and to walk in obedience to His Word.

Faith is not a self-help tool or a feel-good escape from hardship. It is the fabric by which we are recreated into new men and women in Christ—day by day, decision by decision.

We are not justified, sanctified, or saved by our works. Those belong to Christ alone. But we are called to obedience, and through that obedience, God shapes us into who He created us to be. (References: James 2:17, John 14:15, 2 Corinthians 5:17)

Faith and Resilience: Insights from Research

You’re not alone in facing trials. Studies have shown that adversity is a common human experience.

Moreover, research published in the Journal of Religion and Health found that spiritual well-being plays a crucial role in coping with stress and building resilience. (Source: Journal of Religion and Health)

The American Psychological Association also emphasizes that resilience—the ability to adapt well to adversity, trauma, or significant stress—can be developed and that faith can be a vital component in strengthening emotional endurance. (Source: American Psychological Association on Resilience)

In His Peace

Today, many years later, I can tell you that the trials didn’t stop and neither did God’s faithfulness.

Through it all, my faith has been strengthened, and with it, a steady and warm presence of peace that the world cannot give and cannot take away.

I’m no longer tossed by the waves, no longer swept away by the storms of life. Instead, I rest quietly in His peace, in His grace, in the sure and steady hope that only He provides. Faith sees me through it all—every trial, every unknown, every new beginning. And hope, real hope, is the anchor of my soul. (References: Isaiah 41:10, Hebrews 6:19)

About Christy Mendelow

Christy Mendelow is a Certified Christian Coach and Teacher who serves men and women walking through life’s defining moments. With warmth, integrity, and clarity, Christy brings a trusted presence and a Biblically grounded coaching approach that aligns with professional standards and centers on your growth in Christ.

She adheres to the core competencies of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the International Christian Coaching Association (ICCA), providing a reflective space for discovery, insight, and forward movement.

Whether coaching, teaching, or co-leading Courageous Christianity with her husband, Colonel Richard J. Mendelow (Ret), Christy is committed to helping others live lives rooted in Biblical truth.

For more information, visit ChristyMendelow.com.