When Life Doesn't Make Sense :: Why Can't I Change?

Colossians makes a massive claim: Jesus is not meant to be one important part of our lives—he is meant to be over everything. Our identity, priorities, habits, relationships, work, decisions, struggles, and future all change when Jesus moves from the edges of our lives to the center. Paul doesn’t give us a picture of Christianity that is merely about believing the right things; he shows us what happens when the supremacy of Jesus becomes the operating reality of everyday life. Over five weeks, we’ll move from who Jesus is, to what we build our lives on, to what needs to change, and finally to what it looks like when Jesus actually has authority over everything.

What is most important to you? In the first message of our series, “Jesus Over Everything,” we explore Colossians 1:1–23 and what it means to put Jesus first. Our decisions, time, attention, and fears reveal what truly drives our lives—but how do those priorities change when we recognize Jesus as Creator, Sustainer, and Savior? Discover how following Jesus reshapes our identity, redirects our ambitions, and brings peace as we surrender control and trust Him with our future. Join New Hope Church in Bend, Oregon, as we consider whether we’re simply fans of Jesus or followers who let Him lead. When Jesus comes first, everything else falls into place.

What do you do when the life you’re living looks different from the life you imagined? Disappointment can leave us wondering whether we missed God’s plan—or whether He has let us down. Through James 4 and Proverbs 3, we explore why a changed plan doesn’t mean a broken promise, how to trust God when we don’t understand, and what it means to be faithful with today. God can be trusted with the life you didn’t plan.

In the wake of the tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary, we grieve alongside our community and hold the families, students, teachers, and first responders in prayer. In this message from When Life Doesn’t Make Sense, we bring the question “Where is God when things go bad?” to Scripture. Without trying to explain away the pain, we reflect on God’s presence in our grief, His love revealed through the cross, and our calling to care for one another. There is room to mourn, to ask hard questions, and to lean on others as we walk through this together.

Why did God let this happen? When tragedy or hardship turns your life upside down, it’s natural to wonder where God is—and whether He still loves you.Romans 8 reminds us that our suffering is real, but it isn’t the end of our story. God can work through our pain for good, shaping us to become more like Jesus. And nothing we experience can separate us from His love.You don’t have to have all the answers to trust that God is with you. Your pain matters, your pain doesn’t define you, and you don’t have to carry it alone.Watch “Why Did God Let This Happen?” from our series, When Life Doesn’t Make Sense.

Do I have a purpose? What if I missed God’s plan for my life? Your purpose isn’t something you have to earn through success, find in the perfect career, or wait for in a future season. It begins with who you are: God’s handiwork, saved by grace and created in Christ Jesus to do good works. In this message from our series, “When Life Doesn’t Make Sense,” we explore Ephesians 2:8–10 and Romans 12 to discover how purpose is lived through everyday faithfulness. Loving the people around you, using the gifts you already have, and doing the next good thing all matter. Your purpose is not to prove your value. It is to live from the value God has already given you. You don’t need a better life. You need a faithful one.

Why can’t I change? If you’ve promised yourself you’d stop doing something and then found yourself doing it again, you know how discouraging that question can feel. In Romans 7–8, Paul describes that struggle and points to hope beyond trying harder. Jesus meets us with grace, and the Spirit helps us change, even when that change is slow. You don’t change by trying harder. You change by depending more on Jesus. This week, Pastor Brandon shares how to look beneath a behavior, bring the struggle into the open, and remember that failure does not mean condemnation for those in Christ.

Psalm 139 reminds us that God knows us completely and is present with us in every season. But His presence isn’t an excuse to remain isolated. God also created us to be known through honest, healthy relationships. Loneliness grows in hiding, while connection grows through honesty. You may feel alone, but you are not abandoned—and you were never meant to stay lonely

Anxiety can leave us feeling responsible for things we were never in control of. In this message from Matthew 6:25–34, we explore Jesus’ teaching on worry and discover why peace doesn’t come from gaining more control, but from trusting God. Learn the difference between healthy concern and obsessive worry, how remembering the character of your heavenly Father can calm anxiety, and how to trade tomorrow’s worries for today’s faithful obedience. You can’t control tomorrow, but you can trust God today.

What you build your life on matters—especially when the storms come. In this message from Matthew 7:24–27, we look at Jesus’ parable of the wise and foolish builders and learn why hearing His words is not the same as following them. Discover how obedience builds a strong foundation, why faith must be formed before difficult seasons arrive, and how to build a life on Jesus that will last for eternity.