Fueled by Hope: Grieving and Doing the Hard Thing

Hope is not just a feeling reserved for the easy moments in life; it is the fuel that sustains us through the hardest seasons, the deepest grief, and the most difficult decisions. Looking at Ezra 10, we see a people confronted with the gravity of their sin, not just in theory but in the painful reality of broken relationships and the call to radical obedience. Yet, even in the midst of public weeping, bitter regret, and the daunting task ahead, the refrain is clear: “Even now, there is hope.” This hope is not rooted in our ability to fix ourselves or in the promise that we’ll never fail again, but in the unchanging character of God—His faithfulness, His grace, and His power to redeem even our worst moments.

Grief over sin is real and necessary, but it is not meant to define us. God’s people are not called to be stuck in cycles of regret or to be paralyzed by fear or comparison. Instead, we are invited to grieve with hope, knowing that our identity is secure in Christ and that God wastes nothing—not even our failures. True repentance is not just an emotional response; it is action, often requiring us to do the hard thing, to make costly changes, and to confront the idols in our lives, even when those idols are good things like family or comfort.

The story in Ezra 10 is not a prescription for how to handle every difficult relationship, but it is a vivid reminder that following God will sometimes require us to make painful choices. The call is not to perfection, but to obedience—trusting that God’s way, though hard, leads to life. Jesus Himself modeled this for us, taking up His cross for the hope set before Him, and inviting us to do the same. We do not walk this path alone; God has given us the church, a community to support, encourage, and hold us accountable as we pursue revival and renewal together.

As we face our own areas of brokenness, the invitation is to respond not with despair or self-reliance, but with hope—hope that God can redeem, restore, and revive. Whether it’s confessing sin, making a hard decision, or simply persevering in faith, we do so fueled by the hope that comes from Christ’s finished work and God’s unchanging love.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Hope in the Midst of Grief: Grieving over sin is necessary, but it is not meant to be our identity. God’s people are called to grieve with hope, trusting that God redeems even our deepest failures and uses them for His purposes. Our tears, when surrendered to Him, become seeds for revival and renewal rather than anchors of regret. [38:50]
• 2. Repentance Requires Action: True repentance is not just feeling sorry or making promises; it is taking concrete steps to align our lives with God’s will, even when it is costly or uncomfortable. Without action, repentance becomes wishful thinking and leads to cycles of regret, but hope-fueled obedience breaks that cycle and leads to restoration. [32:14]
• 3. Idols Can Be Good Things: Sometimes the hardest idols to confront are not the obviously sinful things, but the good gifts—like family, comfort, or reputation—that we place above God. When anything, even something as precious as family, becomes untouchable in our obedience to God, it has become an idol. The call is to love God first, trusting Him with all else. [50:28]
• 4. Doing the Hard Thing: Following Jesus is not always easy or comfortable. Sometimes obedience means making painful decisions, letting go of things we cherish, or facing the consequences of past choices. Yet, we are fueled by hope because Jesus has gone before us, showing that life and resurrection are found on the other side of the cross. [53:07]
• 5. We Are Not Alone: God never intended for us to walk the path of repentance and obedience alone. The church is a community for accountability, encouragement, and support as we pursue revival together. When we face hard things, we do so together, reminding each other of the hope we have in Christ and the faithfulness of God through every generation. [55:44]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [28:02] - Anniversary Surprise & Church Family
• [29:12] - The Gas Tank Social Experiment
• [31:02] - Introduction to Ezra 10: Fueled by Hope
• [32:29] - Prayer for Hope
• [33:22] - Ezra’s Grief and Public Repentance
• [34:51] - “Even Now, There Is Hope”
• [36:28] - Grieving with Hope, Not Despair
• [39:20] - Repentance: Hope vs. Fear
• [41:42] - The Difference Between Religion and Revival
• [43:45] - Grief, Loss, and the Hope of Christ
• [44:26] - Radical Obedience in Ezra 10
• [47:43] - Wrestling with Hard Commands
• [50:28] - The Idol of Family
• [52:39] - The Cost of Following Jesus
• [55:05] - Jesus, Our Model for Hope-Fueled Obedience
• [56:24] - The Seriousness of Sin and Community Accountability
• [59:58] - Hope for Revival and Renewal
• [63:02] - Responding: Baptism, Communion, and Next Steps
• [72:19] - Announcements & Prayer
• [73:13] - Dismissal and Blessing

Bible Reading

Ezra 10:1-17 (ESV) — > While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: “We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law. Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.” Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath.
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> Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib, where he spent the night, neither eating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles. And a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem, and that if anyone did not come within three days, by order of the officials and the elders all his property should be forfeited, and he himself banned from the congregation of the exiles.
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> Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. And all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. And Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have broken faith and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel. Now then make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.” Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, “It is so; we must do as you have said. But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot stand in the open. Nor is this a task for one day or for two, for we have greatly transgressed in this matter. Let our officials stand for the whole assembly. Let all in our cities who have taken foreign wives come at appointed times, and with them the elders and judges of every city, until the fierce wrath of our God over this matter is turned away from us.” Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them.
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> Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men, heads of fathers’ houses, according to their fathers’ houses, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter; and by the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign women.

Observation Questions

1. What was the emotional response of the people as Ezra prayed and confessed before God? ([33:22])
2. According to Shecaniah’s words, what hope did he see for Israel even after their sin? ([34:51])
3. What specific action did the people propose to take in response to their sin? ([44:26])
4. How did the people demonstrate that their repentance was more than just words? ([44:57])

Interpretation Questions

1. The people in Ezra 10 grieved deeply over their sin, but the sermon says their grief was not meant to define them. Why is it important for believers to grieve with hope rather than despair? ([38:50])
2. The sermon points out that true repentance requires action, not just feelings or promises. What are some reasons people might stop at feeling sorry instead of taking hard steps to change? ([39:56])
3. The sermon discusses how even good things, like family, can become idols if they are placed above obedience to God. Why do you think good things can be the hardest idols to confront? ([50:28])
4. The people in Ezra 10 did not walk through repentance alone. What role does community play in helping us obey God, especially when it’s hard? ([55:44])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says, “Grief over sin is real and necessary, but it is not meant to define us.” Is there an area of your life where you feel stuck in regret or shame? What would it look like to grieve with hope instead? ([38:50])
2. Repentance in Ezra 10 meant making a costly, public change. Is there a specific area in your life where you know God is calling you to take action, not just feel sorry? What is one step you could take this week? ([44:26])
3. The sermon warns that even good things, like family or comfort, can become idols. Is there something in your life—even a good thing—that you have made “untouchable” in your obedience to God? How can you surrender that to Him? ([50:28])
4. Doing the hard thing is often painful and uncomfortable. Can you think of a time when following Jesus required you to make a difficult choice? What helped you move forward, or what held you back? ([53:07])
5. The sermon says, “We are not alone.” Who in your life can you invite to walk with you as you pursue obedience and hope? Is there someone you need to ask for accountability or encouragement? ([55:44])
6. The people in Ezra 10 responded together as a community. How can our small group be a place where we help each other do the hard things God calls us to do? ([55:44])
7. The sermon ends by reminding us that hope is rooted in God’s unchanging character, not our ability to fix ourselves. When you face failure or brokenness, what helps you remember God’s faithfulness? ([32:29])