--- title: "Resurrecting Hope" date: 2026-03-25 author: "Laurie Stroud" featured_image: "https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/bigstock-Concept-conceptual-black-cross-50633582.jpg" categories: - name: "Mental Health" url: "/category/news/health/mental-health.md" tags: - name: "Featured" url: "/tag/featured.md" --- # Resurrecting Hope **Healthy Living** **[![Community Partner 25 Years](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Community-Partner-25-Years-1-300x243.png "Community Partner 25 Years")](https://birminghamchristian.com/partners/)Brought to you by: Community Partner Still Waters Counseling and Education Center,** [**www.mystillwaters.org**](http://www.mystillwaters.org) The season of Easter holds the full spectrum of human emotions, the deepest of grief and the most profound joy. We mourn and we celebrate. The story of Easter begins in sorrow. The disciples watched the one they loved suffer and die. Their hopes seemed buried with Him. Fear, confusion, and loss filled the silence of that long weekend. Many of us know that kind of silence. We have faced moments where the future feels uncertain, and the weight of disappointment or grief feels heavy. Yet Easter does not end in sorrow, but in a turn of events that gives way to overflowing joy. The empty tomb reminds us that God’s work is not limited to what we can see in the moment. Resurrection means that even when a story appears finished, God is still writing. What looks like the end may actually be the beginning of restoration. In counseling, we often meet people who feel as if their story has reached its final chapter. They have prayed, tried, endured, and carried burdens for a long time. Some come believing they have already used their last chance. Hope can feel fragile when life has delivered repeated disappointments. **But the message of Easter speaks directly into that place.** The resurrection of Christ tells us that despair does not have the final word. Shame does not have the final word. Fear does not have the final word. The power that raised Jesus from the dead reveals that God brings life where we may only see loss. Healing often unfolds quietly. It may look like getting out of bed on a difficult morning, asking for help, choosing forgiveness, or taking one small step toward change. These moments may seem small, but they reflect courage and movement toward life. Good therapy helps us understand and experience how minds and emotions heal. Faith anchors us in the Truth that we do not carry our burdens alone. Together, they create space for real restoration. Scripture offers this promise: *“He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”* 1 Peter 1:3 Resurrection is not only a past event. It is an ongoing reality. God continues to bring renewal into broken places and life into weary hearts. If you are in a season where hope feels distant, know that your story is not finished. If you think you might benefit from professional counseling, Still Waters would be honored to be of service. *[![Beverly Ward](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Beverly-Ward-150x150.jpg "Beverly Ward")](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Beverly-Ward.jpg)[![Still Waters logo](https://birminghamchristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Still-Waters-logo-300x154.png "Still Waters logo")](https://www.mystillwaters.org/)–Beverly Ward, MA, EdS, LPC* *Still Waters Counseling and Education Center* *[www.mystillwaters.org](http://www.mystillwaters.org/)* --- Still Waters is currently looking to add a few therapists. If you are a licensed therapist with theological training, we would welcome an initial conversation to explore whether you might be a strong fit for our practice. Email .