Feeling Lost, Finding Hope
💡 This post is part of our series on whole-person health and healing. Each week, we’re exploring a different area of life—physical, mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual—and practical steps toward lasting hope and restoration.
We recognize our readers come from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life. Not everyone shares the same faith perspective, and that’s okay. You are welcome here. We invite you to take what is helpful to you right now, reflect on perspectives that may challenge your current values or goals, and join us in this journey of learning and growth. That’s the beauty of life together in diverse community: we don’t have to agree on everything to care for and support one another well.
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There are seasons of life when it feels like we’re stumbling in the dark—lost in exhaustion, pain, confusion, or just plain busyness. Maybe you’ve felt it: the heaviness of going through the motions, the nagging thought that life could be different, but not knowing where to start.
Feeling lost is painful. But it can also be temporary. And it can become the starting point for healing, growth, and hope.
When we feel stuck, it is tempting to default to comfort:: scrolling endlessly on our phones, eating whatever’s easy, isolating ourselves, or even turning away from God out of shame or anger. The path of least resistance feels safe at first, but it often deepens our troubles and sense of being lost.
The truth is that growth is almost always uncomfortable. Like a seed breaking through soil, or a muscle strengthening under resistance, growth occurs through the experience of tension. This discomfort isn’t a sign of failure—it’s evidence of movement.
The Journey Ahead
This series will walk through six key areas of health. God created us to be whole persons. He cares about our minds, bodies, relationships, and sousl. And He has a plan for our healing and growth.
Here’s where we’ll go together:
Nutrition: How we fuel our bodies
Movement: How we care for and keep our bodies active over time
Sleep: How we rest and restore
Mental Health: How we process pain and stress
Social Health: How we connect and forgive
Spiritual Health: How we relate to God
Reflection Questions
When was the last time you felt truly “well” in every sense of the word?
Where do you feel most out of balance right now?
How does your relationship with God feel in this season—nonexistant, distant, close, or somewhere in between?
First Steps
Commit to reading this series with an open heart.
Ask God to show you one area where He wants to bring hope and healing.
Share with a trusted family member, friend or mentor that you’re beginning this journey—community matters.
A Truth to Hold Onto
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." —Matthew 11:28
We weren’t created to carry the weight of life alone. God designed us for deep connection—with Him and with others. When Jesus invites us to come to Him, He’s offering more than just a break from exhaustion. He’s inviting us into a relationship that heals and restores every part of who we are.
When we’re struggling or overwhelmed, it’s easy to let our health slip—to eat whatever’s quick, avoid hard conversations, push ourselves without rest, or ignore the quiet whispers of our own pain. But God cares about our whole selves: body, mind, and soul. He asks us to bring all of it to Him—the mess, the hurt, the weariness—because He loves us too much to leave us stuck.
Living well isn’t about perfection. It’s about learning to care for ourselves in a way that honors God and reflects His love for us. He doesn’t shame us for what’s been neglected or broken; He gently calls us back to Himself, where true rest and renewal begin.
And as He invites us to Himself, He also calls us to take part in that renewal—to choose habits and rhythms that lead us toward life. Healing is both a gift and a partnership: God gives us strength and wisdom, and we respond by making daily decisions to care for our bodies, guard our hearts, and nurture our souls. Each small step, even when it feels hard, becomes a way of saying “yes” to His love, “yes” to life in community with others, and “yes” to His design for us.
Stay Connected
If you’d like to follow along with New Hope’s work, we invite you to connect with us on social media or subscribe to our email newsletter, The Common Thread. We’ll be sharing regular updates as we continue this journey together.
💙 Join us for Taste of New Hope!
On Thursday, October 2nd from 5–8 PM at Providence Church, enjoy food from local restaurants, a silent auction, and a live auction at 7 PM—all benefiting New Hope’s Counseling Center. Proceeds make counseling more accessible for individuals and families in our community. For more information, visit: Taste of New Hope 2025 | New Hope Community Life Ministry — New Hope Community Life Ministry
🎟 Tickets: $20/person or $60/family
👉 Reserve your spot today »
By Sheila Derr, Executive Director, New Hope Community Life Ministry