Finding Hope When Life Catches You Off Guard

In this final sermon of our series Get Your Hopes Up, our campus pastors reminded us that it’s possible to overflow with hope even when life isn’t meeting our expectations. In this message, we learned four ways Jesus’ mother, Mary, held on to hope while she embraced her unexpected assignment. Use this guide to keep talking about the sermon! 

SERMON HIGHLIGHTS

• Mary found favor that most of us can’t comprehend, and the first thing she felt was fear.
• If we expect the favor of God to show up looking like fame, fortune, or more followers, we’ll probably miss it every time. 
• “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” C.S. Lewis
• God doesn’t just want to bring hope TO you. God wants to bring hope THROUGH you.

KEY SCRIPTURES

• Luke 1:26-49
• Romans 15:13

START TALKING 

• What’s something you experienced this year that you weren’t expecting? 
  

KEEP TALKING

• When the angel of the Lord brought Mary news that changed her life forever, he called her favored (Luke 1:28), but the first thing Mary felt was fear (Luke 1:29). Where have you been dealing with frustration or feeling afraid lately? What would you do differently if you believed you were actually favored? 
• One way we overflow with hope is to hold onto what God said, even when we can’t see Him working in our situation. What’s a word, Scripture, or promise you need to hold onto in this season? 
• Next, we must open up to the right people. For Mary, that person was Elizabeth. Who is that person for you, and how do they help you get your hopes up? 
• The other thing we must do if we’re going to overflow with hope is praise God for the miracle we haven’t seen yet. What would it look like for you to worship God while you wait for the miracle you can’t see yet? 
• Finally, we must embrace the purpose behind our pain. How do you think God might want to use some of the hard things you’ve navigated for His glory and the good of those around you? 

KEEP IT GOING

Romans 15:13 says we are meant to overflow with hope. Who in your life needs the hope you’ve found? Reach out to them this week and invite them to one of our Christmas services. Remember, God doesn’t just want to bring hope to you—He wants to bring hope through you!

PRAYER

Father, thank you for calling us favored. We believe that even when we don’t see it, you’re working. You are the reason we can have hope in all things and in all times. Please burden our hearts for those around us who don’t have the hope we carry. Open our eyes to see the people who need you this Christmas. Amen.