Spark of Hope
A Story of Perseverance
Walk with me through a season when I had very little to hold onto except faith, determination, and a small spark of hope. What looked like an impossible beginning became a journey of discovering that God could make a way forward one unexpected step at a time.
Story by Dr. Lana Wynn Scroggins
Sometimes hope doesn't arrive as a complete answer. Sometimes it begins as one small idea, one person willing to help, or enough courage to take the next step.
There was a season in my life when I had almost nothing and no clear picture of what my future would look like. Yet in the middle of all that uncertainty, a small spark of hope began to grow—and God used it to lead me toward a new beginning I couldn't yet see.
Suddenly, I found myself at fifty-one, navigating the harsh reality of homelessness. The family I devoted my days to as a nanny and housekeeper had ended, leaving me with less than $100. With a small bag, I sought refuge in a friend's home, praying for a spark of hope as the weight of the unknown future pressed upon me.
The next day, out of desperation and determination, I went to see my pastor with a bold plan to talk my mom into giving me her rusty old camper behind the barn in the hayfield and coming back to get a job. My words sounded like an impossible dream, and though not certain about success, he handed me $400 and blessed my endeavor. This ignited that spark of courage, a leap of faith that I was determined to defy the skepticism that came with it. Against all the odds, this was going to work.
As I began the thirteen-hour trip home, with every mile, I dreamed of the new life God had for me. I clung to God's promises with a feeling reminiscent of Abraham's unwavering faith in the face of an uncertain future. I reminded myself about Abraham's resolute trust in God. Like him, I found solace in believing that God's divine provision awaited me when I needed it the most.
When I got home, I told Mom my story; she and her husband agreed to let me have the camper tucked away behind the barn. A flood of excitement pounded through me as we hitched the camper onto my truck. However, the plan took an unexpected nosedive when the lights refused to cooperate. My brother's theory of mischievous field mice chewing through the wiring cast a shadow over our optimism, threatening to derail the very lifeline we were counting on.
My brother left with his verdict echoing in the air that nothing more could be done. All alone in that large hayfield, I released a torrent of emotions, crying and yelling to God in a desperate plea, "This camper has to work; it just has to!" Fifteen minutes later, my brother called and believed they had figured it out. Miraculously, the lights flickered to life, and the once-troubled wiring seamlessly fell into place, breathing life into our seemingly doomed endeavor.
It was time to leave and make the trip over the mountains. Mom handed me a little money and prayed for my safe trip back. I got back and went to the soccer park to meet my friends. A friend told me they needed a teacher at their Christian school, and I accepted without hesitation.
The school's principal had a church member who offered to rent me their lot for my camper. What an amazing journey! Against all odds along the way, that spark of hope that persisted in the darkest moments illuminated the path toward God's divine provision when needed.
Take a quiet moment to think about where you may need a spark of hope today. You don't have to know how everything will work out. Simply bring what feels uncertain to Jesus and consider the next step He may be placing before you.
- Where in your life do you need a fresh spark of hope right now?
- Can you remember a time when God provided what you needed one step at a time rather than all at once?
- What is one small step of faith you can take today, even if you can't see where the whole journey will lead?
Sometimes hope begins very small. It doesn't always arrive with a complete plan or an answer to every question. Sometimes it's simply enough courage to believe there might still be a way forward.
Looking back, I can see how God met me one step at a time. The whole answer wasn't waiting for me at the beginning. There was help from my pastor, an old camper, a problem that seemed impossible to fix, a teaching opportunity, and finally a place for that camper to become home.
Maybe you're in a place today where you can't see how everything could possibly work out. Don't underestimate the little spark of hope God has placed in your heart. You don't have to see the entire road ahead. Hold onto that hope and trust Him with the next step.
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Jesus,
Thank You for being with me when the future feels uncertain. When I can't see how things will work out, give me a spark of hope and the courage to take the next step. Help me recognize the ways You are providing for me, even when the whole answer hasn't appeared yet. When obstacles make me want to give up, strengthen my faith and remind me that You are already at work ahead of me. Help me keep trusting You, one step at a time.
Amen.
A small spark of hope can be enough to take the next step with God.
Hope Beyond the Hurt
Giving Jesus
Dr. Lana Wynn Scroggins
Dr. Lana Wynn Scroggins is a Christian writer, author, and storyteller who loves sharing the ways Jesus meets us in the ordinary, difficult, and unexpected moments of life. Through Giving Jesus, Lana creates stories, devotionals, music, Bible studies, and other faith-filled experiences designed to help women spend time with Jesus and recognize His presence in their everyday lives.