107: Craig Groeschel on How to Hope in the Dark

Crisis, loss, and disappointment are all things most of us will experience in life. And in the midst of personal hell, I know it’s true—because I’ve lived it—that we can barely take the next step in front of us—like paying bills on time, having normal conversations, or even remembering to eat regular meals. Beyond hopelessness is despair, and that’s an even scarier place to live. I’ve been there too. So how in the world are we even supposed to say the word “hope,” let alone cultivate it in the midst of crisis. For some of us, life has taught us that there’s no point in getting our hopes up, because the disappointment that follows hurts even worse. And that’s valid. But that’s also not real hope. The question is, then, what is real hope in the midst of chaos? Joining us today to answer that question is New York Times bestselling author, and leader of leaders, pastor of the largest church in America, Craig Groeschel. And today, he’s going to teach us precisely how to hope in the dark.

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“I want to believe, I want to have hope, but…” Pastor and bestselling author Craig Groeschel hears these words often and has asked them himself. We want to know God, feel his presence, and trust that he hears our prayers, but in the midst of great pain, we may wonder if he really cares about us. Even when we have both hope and hurt, sometimes it’s the hurt that shouts the loudest. Can God be good when life is not

In Hope in the Dark: Believing God Is Good When Life Is Not, Groeschel explores the story of the father who brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus, saying, “I believe! Help my unbelief!” In the man’s sincere plea, Jesus heard the tension in the man’s battle-scarred heart. He healed not only the boy but the father too, driving out the hopelessness that had overtaken him. He can do the same for us today. As Groeschel shares his pain surrounding the current health challenges of his daughter, he acknowledges the questions we may ask in our own deepest pain: “Where was God when I was being abused?” “Why was my child born with a disability?” “Why did the cancer come back?” “Why are all my friends married and I’m alone?” He invites us to wrestle with such questions as we ask God to honor our faith and heal our unbelief.

In the middle of your profound pain, you long for authentic words of understanding and hope. You long to know that even in overwhelming reality, you can still believe that God is good. Rediscover a faith in the character, power, and presence of God. Even in the questions. Even now. Buy Hope in the Dark: Believing God Is Good When Life Is Not now.

About Craig Groeschel

Craig Groeschel is the founding and senior pastor of Life.Church. Meeting in multiple locations around the United States, and globally at Church Online, Life.Church is known for the innovative use of technology to spread the Gospel. With a passion for serving the Church and partnering to reach people for Christ, Life.Church develops and shares resources and applications with churches worldwide. Life.Church also developed YouVersion and the Bible App. Created to help increase access and engagement with the Bible, the Bible App has been installed on more than 250 million devices and in every country of the world. Craig and his wife, Amy, have six children and live in the Edmond, Oklahoma area where Life.Church began in 1996. He speaks frequently at conferences worldwide, hosts the Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast, and is a New York Times best-selling author.

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