Close

How to Know God

Do you ever wonder what Christians believe? Who Jesus is, what he did and why it matters? Get answers to these questions and more.

Spiritual Growth

Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth.

Life & Relationships

Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God.

Bible Studies

Find resources for personal or group Bible study.

Share the Gospel

Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus.

Help Others Grow

Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring.

Leadership Training

Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are.

Video

Browse videos designed to help you grow spiritually, share your faith, and lead others well.

Language Resources

View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages.

Quizzes & Assessments

Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others.

Campus

Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others.

City

Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city.

Inner City

Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs.

Athletes

Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation.

Families

Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage.

High School

Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school.

Military

Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide.

Locate Cru Near You

Explore Cru's global presence and discover how you can get involved in communities worldwide.

Mission Trips

Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world.

1-Year Full-Time Internships

Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries.

Careers

If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals.

Go International

Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact.

Volunteer Opportunities

Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? We need you.

Events

Find a Cru event near you.

Explore Your Interests

Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve.

What We Do

How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus.

Donor Relations

Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Cru’s annual report and more.

Our Leadership

Learn about Cru's global leadership team.

Cru Partnerships

When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen.

Storylines

Showing God in action in and through His people.

Press

Access Cru's latest news releases, media contacts, and background information on our global ministries and leadership.

0

Finding the Courage to Change in Community

Have you ever felt stuck in a situation or relationship where you felt powerless? When we experience devastating defeat, trauma or a loss of control, it can leave us feeling hopeless.

In these painful moments, we have lost the ability to see what is real.

I have been there. My adult life has been a journey through our child’s cancer battle and my husband’s deployments. We’ve said goodbye and buried friends and their children far too often.

Life is painful. It is full of change that is forced on us and change we sometimes lack the courage to initiate.

Where Can We Find Hope?

If hope is an expectation and desire for something good in the future, then hopelessness is the lack of ability to see better days.

The Bible tells us in Isaiah, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (41:10, New International Version)” and in Proverbs “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe (18:10, New International Version).”

Throughout the Bible, there are verses like these telling us our hope is found in God.

It’s Time to Do Life Differently

Whether we like it or not, we are influenced by the people we surround ourselves with. It is for this reason that lifestyle changes, like healthy eating or going to the gym, work best when our friends join us.

When my daughter was diagnosed with cancer at a young age, I relied heavily on the encouragement and positivity of friends. I distanced myself from the naysayers because my heart was already too heavy with the fear of death. I didn’t need others to weigh it down further. The same was true during my husband’s deployments.

I sought out counselors and Bible studies that fostered hope. I found joy in the journey despite the pain. I found the courage to walk away from communities that didn’t offer support.

Instead, I ran to the hope found in Jesus Christ.

Is Fear Holding You Back?

Often the reason we don’t change is that we are too afraid to invite others into our lives.

We allow differences to keep us apart. We need to learn from others with different life experiences. We need to support one another as we struggle together toward hope.

If you are looking for a community of hope, find Cru near you here.

Since 1951, Cru has helped individuals who grapple with integrating faith into daily life by offering practical steps and community support. As a result, countless people in over 190 countries have been empowered to move from passive belief to active faith.