“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end …” Lamentations 3:21-22 (ESV)
My hair was falling out. Yes, me — the girl whose hairstylists always declared, “Wow! You have a lot of hair!” Now I freaked out every time I shampooed.
Initially, I wasn’t too worried. It’ll grow back. Things will be better by summer, I reassured myself.
With deadlines hanging over my head, my anxiety climbed as I juggled the gazillion hats I wore. My top priorities were my husband and kids. Me? I’ll figure that out later. But my emotional reserves, once filled with optimism, started thinning along with my hair. The more stressed I became, the more hair I lost.
I needed hope. Optimism is imagining how circumstances will get better, but hope is seeing God’s love and care during difficult circumstances. Hope is our refuge in uncertainty, even when optimism runs dry.
Are you feeling weary today in the middle of a hard season you thought was temporary, only to discover you’re stretched so thin that you’re burned out, losing your joy and hope?
We often don’t know how stressed we are until our body sends us physical signals. But God cares about you. It breaks His heart seeing you, His little girl, running ragged.
There’s a story of a little girl in the Bible who everyone thought was gone forever as she lay on her bed, not breathing. Everyone had lost hope. But when Jesus came and gently held her hand, He brought her back to life. Then guess what He said?
“… Give her something to eat” (Mark 5:43b, CEV).
Jesus didn’t tell her to greet the crowd gathered outside or to do her chores. Instead, He lovingly focused on her well-being. It’s important to God that we nourish our bodies with rest, taking time to feel His loving touch revive us through His Word.
God wanted me to believe I was worthy of care and to take action during my stressful season. Three practical changes that helped me were to develop healthier eating habits (no skipping meals!), face my fear by setting boundaries and letting go of responsibilities that were no longer healthy for me, and pray “breath prayers.”
These prayers nurtured hope whenever I felt overwhelmed. It’s a simple way to pray using Scripture to release tension in your body and reoxygenate your soul with God’s peace.
Use this breath prayer based on Lamentations 3:21-23: “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (ESV).
Inhale: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.
Exhale: Your mercies are new every morning.
God can renew your hope. Hope gives you permission to do things differently and to believe God will be faithful to help you. His love fuels your hope, the oxygen for your soul.
Thank You, Jesus, for being my anchor and hope. Help me rest in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The world tells us stress is just part of success — but God never asked you to live like that. “5 Truths You Need When You're Worn Down and Worn Out” is a free, hope-filled resource created to help you let go of the constant pressure, reset your rhythms, and find rest in God’s presence. Discover how to stop carrying weight He never asked you to carry and experience the kind of peace that doesn’t depend on your productivity. Download your copy now — it provides just the kind of fresh perspective you might need!
Feeling burned out or overwhelmed? Get Bonnie’s free three-day devotional, Breathe Hope Again: A 3-Day Devotional to Renew Your Soul. Each day offers you gentle soul care reflections, breath prayer prompts, and scriptures to help you release stress and feel God’s peace — right in the midst of your daily challenges. Click here to start your three-day journey to renewed hope.
Take Bonnie’s free “Soul Care Quiz” — your personal wellness assessment — to learn what type of care you’re missing most and how to flourish with God’s peace and joy in your life! You can also follow Bonnie on Instagram or Facebook.
Hebrews 6:19a, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (NIV).
Psalm 119:114, “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word” (NIV).
How is God inviting you to hope again? What could you do differently if you chose to live with hope under God’s care? Share with us in the comments!
© 2025 by Bonnie Gray. All rights reserved.
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