Devotions this week are based on Week 2 How Would You Answer (WATCH HERE)
Luke 24:17–24 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
Jesus asks a question. “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” It is a simple question, but it opens the door for something deeper. The disciples begin to pour out everything they are carrying. Their confusion, their disappointment, their shattered expectations all come to the surface. At the center of it all is one honest phrase: “We had hoped.”
That line carries the weight of grief. It speaks of a future they believed in but no longer see. It is the quiet confession of a heart that feels let down.
What stands out is that Jesus lets them speak. He does not interrupt. He does not immediately correct. He listens.
This reveals something important about the heart of God. He is not distant from your struggles. He invites you to bring them to Him. Scripture echoes this invitation. “Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (Psalm 62:8). God does not ask for polished prayers. He welcomes honest ones.
We often feel pressure to come to God with the right words, the right attitude, or the right conclusions. But the Emmaus story shows that Jesus meets us in raw honesty. The disciples do not hide their disappointment. They say exactly what they feel, and Jesus receives it.
When someone you love is hurting, what helps most is not immediate advice but attentive listening. The act of being heard brings comfort. It communicates care. In the same way, when we bring our concerns to God, we are not informing Him of something He does not know. We are entering into relationship with Him.
Jesus is able and willing to sympathize with our weaknesses. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Jesus understands what it means to experience sorrow, confusion, and even abandonment. When you speak to Him, you are not speaking into emptiness. You are speaking to One who understands.
Today, consider what your “We had hoped” might be. Perhaps it is a dream that did not come to pass. A relationship that did not turn out as expected. A season that feels heavier than you imagined. Bring that honestly to the Lord. You do not need to edit your emotions. You do not need to have it all figured out. Jesus is there to listen.
Reflect:
- What is a “We had hoped” moment in your life right now?
- What keeps you from being fully honest with God about it?
Prayer: Lord, You see my heart and know my struggles. Give me the courage to be honest with You. Help me to bring my hopes, disappointments, and questions into Your presence, trusting that You care and that You listen. Amen.