Hope in Troubled Times

Have you ever had a time in your life when things didn’t go as planned? Maybe you had a dream or a vision of where your life should be by now, only to find yourself facing a much different reality.

I think about the times I’ve waited for clarity, hoping for change, feeling stuck and not knowing how to move forward. Times like these can be so frustrating and leave us wondering where we went wrong.

It turns out, this isn’t a new experience. Even Jesus’ closest friends went through it.

This past weekend Pastor Dave unpacked John 16 when Jesus shared with his disciples that He was about leave them and that they would experience grief and sorrow. 

Just imagine how confusing this must have been for the disciples.  They had left everything to follow Him, believing He was the one who would change everything. Specifically, that Jesus would rise up as a great military leader and free Isreal from the Roman occupation. Not only that, but they also believed that Jesus would return Isreal to is former glory, as it was during the reigns of king David and Solomon.

But then, Jesus starts talking about leaving. He talks about how he is going somewhere they couldn’t follow and that it would result in great sorrow. This wasn’t how they thought things would go. Their expectations were of a glorious victory over the Romans.

Jesus, indeed, was talking about a glorious victory, but it would look very different than what they imagined it should be.

I know that I can relate to that feeling… moments when things don’t make sense, or when the plan falls apart, and the road ahead feels uncertain. Maybe you’ve felt it too.

When Plans Change

In 2014, Christine Caine was at the height of her ministry. She was traveling the world, speaking to thousands, and leading two growing organizations: A21, dedicated to fighting human trafficking, and Propel Women, empowering women in leadership. She was strong, full of energy, and focused on the mission God had given her. But then came a phone call that changed everything.

Here’s her story:

“Christine, it’s cancer.”

I sat there, stunned. Cancer? I was healthy, strong, how could this be happening? Fear gripped my heart for a moment, and questions swirled in my mind. God, I’ve been serving You with everything I have. Why now?

But then, I had a choice to make. I could allow fear to paralyze me, or I could stand on what I had spent my whole life preaching: God is good. God is faithful. God is my healer.

I remember saying to myself, “This is what faith is for. Faith is for the unexpected phone call, for the moment you get a report that shakes your world.”

It wasn’t just a battle for my health. It was a battle for my trust in God’s promises. I had declared for years that God was my provider, my healer, my strength. Now, I had to live it.”

Slowing down was never part of my plan, but I had no choice. The doctors scheduled surgery, and I had to step back from leading day-to-day operations at A21 and Propel Women. It was terrifying at first, these were organizations I had poured my heart into. What if everything fell apart?

But that’s when I saw God move. The teams I had raised up stepped in. They took ownership. They carried the mission forward.

I had to learn to let go and trust that the same God who called me to build these organizations would sustain them, even without me at the center.

And He did. A21 continued rescuing victims of human trafficking. Propel Women kept growing, reaching even more women worldwide. It was as if God was showing me: Christine, this was never just about you. This is My work, and I will sustain it.

Holding Onto the Word

There were days when fear would creep in. But I held onto 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

I remember saying, “Fear is the enemy’s language, but faith is God’s language. And I am going to speak the language of faith. “I kept declaring healing over my body. I surrounded myself with people who would speak life and truth. And I refused to let cancer define my story.

The surgery was successful, and my recovery wasn’t just physical it was spiritual. I had walked through the fire, and my faith had been tested, but I knew one thing for sure:” God is faithful. Even when life throws you the unexpected, even when fear tries to take over, even when you feel like everything is out of control, God is still in control.”

When I finally stepped back on stage, I had a new fire inside me. My message wasn’t just words anymore, it was lived experience. I could stand in front of crowds and say with confidence: “You may be facing something impossible, but don’t you dare let fear have the final word. God is greater. He is able. And He will carry you through.”

Today, I’m stronger than before. A21 is still rescuing lives. Propel Women is still equipping leaders. And I am still running my race. Because cancer didn’t win. Fear didn’t win. God did.

Christine Caine’s story is an incredible example of how God can give hope even when life doesn’t go as planned. It’s a reminder that the sorrow and challenges we face are not the end of the story. Just as Jesus promised, even in our most difficult moments, we can experience the joy of knowing Him and trusting that He is with us through every season of life.

We all have an idea of how life should go. Whether it’s career goals, relationships, or a general sense of where we thought we’d be by now, we carry expectations. And when reality doesn’t match up, it’s easy to feel disappointed, frustrated, or even lost.

The disciple’s thought Jesus was going to establish a kingdom the way they understood. That Isreal would be the new military, political, and economic superpower. Instead, He spoke of suffering, leaving, and a joy that would come after sorrow. That was hard for them to grasp.

It’s hard for us too. When we’re in the middle of uncertainty or waiting, it’s tough to believe that something good could be on the other side. But Jesus wasn’t saying their sorrow wouldn’t be real, He was saying it wouldn’t be forever.

The Story Isn’t Over

Jesus finished His conversation with the disciples with these words: 

“In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

The trouble is real, but so is the promise. Jesus is reassuring us that, despite the struggles and challenges we face, He has defeated sin, pain, death, and every kind of evil. His victory triumphs over the worldly troubles that we face.

If you’re in that place where things haven’t turned out like you hoped for, you can, like in Christine’s testimony, take heart in the victory of Christ that overcomes the world.

Because when plans change, we must hold onto His word, knowing that the story isn’t over. That’s where we find hope in troubled times.