(in)courage - Create in Me a Heart of Hope

Have you ever felt hopeless?

Perhaps youve found yourself facing circumstances you never prepared for or even imagined, and while youre desperately longing for some help or encouragement, youre beginning to wonder if that will ever happen. Perhaps youve gone through something painful, and now, on the other side, you fear that experience has redefined you or redrawn your perspective in a way that has destroyed your belief in a greater good. Maybe youre looking for any sign of hope, any hint of encouragement, any inkling that thiswhatever your this might bewont last forever and wont get the best of you. Maybe youre afraid to hope, or perhaps youre not even sure what hope is.

Gods Word and this Bible study are here to meet you in that very place.

For the next six weeks, were going to dive deep into Scripture to examine what we believe about hope. Well look at how God offers us hopereal, certain, unshakable hopewhen were waiting and when were overwhelmed, when weve been hurt and when we feel trapped. Looking at where that hope comes from and what it looks like in our lives will help us understand what hope is and what difference it makes. It will allow God to create in us a heart of hope.

Welcome to Create in Me a Heart of Hope . Our prayer is that this study will encourage you to seek the Lord and the hope He offers each one of ushope in the One who created the universe, including you, and who promises to never leave you and to someday make all things right again.

How to Use This Study

Create in Me a Heart of Hope is designed to be used by individuals or small groups. For groups doing this study, we recommend allowing at least forty-five minutes for discussion (or more for larger groups). Enhance your community study experience with our Create in Me a Heart of Hope Leader Guide . Go to www.incourage.me/leaderguides to download your free small group resources.

As youre working through this study, we encourage you to take your time. We believe God has an incredible message for each one of us in His Word, and we will find it when we seek to learn more and go deeper into Scripture. Our prayer is that, instead of being one more thing on your to-do list, this study can be an encouraging, life-giving experience that brings you closer to God and leaves you feeling more peace, stronger faith, and of course, hope.

So work through this study at your own pace. Ask God to reveal His insight and truth to you. Then listen as He speaks to you through His Word.

Each week of this study will begin with a personal story from an (in)courage contributor, following our habit of going first with our hard, messy, real stories. Many of those stories begin in deep heartache but inevitably find their way back to God and the great gift of hope Hes given us. Each week will also provide a memory verse to work on throughout the study, to empower you with the tools that will keep you grounded in hope long after you close this book. As you go through this study, you will find it helpful to have a Bible and/or a Bible app for reading Scripture, as well as a journal for writing each weeks memory verses. (That journal doesnt have to be anything fancy, though. A simple notebook will work just fine!)

The first day of each week will focus on one personal story and introduce that weeks memory verse. The following four days will dive deep into Gods Word, illustrating the different reasons we need hope, where we can find it, and the difference it will make in our lives.

Are you ready? We at (in)courage are so excited to go on this journey with you! Join us as we examine what God has to teach us about hope and the way Hes providing everything we need to face anything this world gives us with peace, confidence, and strength. Join us as we ask God to create in us a heart of hope.