In this Episode we hear from the Podcasts Founder and Host Jim Leary. He shares his personal story of his search for Hope. Is it ok for a a Pastor to struggle with losing hope? Where in the Bible do we see people struggling with losing hope? Here are a few instances:
1. Abraham (Genesis 15)
2. Jonah (Jonah 4)
3. Job (The Book of Job)
4. Elijah (1 Kings 19) Elijah asked to die. He said, “it is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” (1 Kings 19:4-5)
5. Hannah was deeply depressed because she could not have children. “Hannah wept and would not eat….she was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.” (1 Samuel 1;7-10)
6. King Saul (1 Samuel 16)
7. Jeremiah (Book of Jeremiah and Book of Lamentations)
8. David (Psalm 42 and other passages)
9. David in Psalm 38: 6, 8: “I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long…I groan because of the turmoil of my heart.”
10. Cain, the son of Adam, after he disobeyed God, God said the following to him: “Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4;6-7)
11. David experienced anxiety and depression as King of Israel after he committed adultery with Bathseba: “When I kept silent, my bones grew old. Through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah” (P
12. The Apostle Paul experienced depression. “We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. “ (2 Cor 1:8-10)
So, I would to assure you that in future episodes of this podcast we will be talking about the issues surrounding hopelessness and hope from a personal point of view. I will seek to be honest, and real.
Beginning in February, we will feature interviews with people who lost hope and rediscovered it again. We will also interview counselors and others who help people rediscover hope again.
I would also love to hear your stories of struggle, of when you felt hopeless and that all was lost, and where you are now in that journey.
I look forward to hearing from you. Maybe we can connect and find hope together.
I would also appreciate learning about where do you see God in your suffering? What has He done for you?
Send your stories to this email address. thehopepodcast@gmail.com If you give me permission, I would like to share your stories during a future podcast. I would also like to invite some of you to share your hope stories via an interview.
Hopefully you will find future episodes of the Hope Podcast to be encouraging. I invite you to bookmark our website and return to download future episodes. The web address is www.thehopepodcast.com.
You are also invited to tune in to the next episode of the podcast that will be up next Monday when I will share how the Gospel gives me hope.
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Intro and Outro
Release the Deep: Josh White
Used with Permission
http://deeper-well.com/releases/absolution/
