I’m writing this post today because I’ve met too many believers lately who seem to have lost their way. They desperately want to trust God without question, but life has robbed them of their hope. If that’s where you are, I pray these words might help you today.
- Be honest with God. He’s big enough to handle your frustrations and fears, and He won’t be surprised by what you tell Him. Even if you’re struggling trusting Him overall, trust Him to hear your cries.
- Realize that having Christian hope doesn’t mean we don’t grieve. When Paul spoke about Christians facing death, he didn’t say that we don’t grieve; he said that we grieve differently than the world does (1 Thess. 4:13). We have confidence in eternal life that the world cannot have, but that hope doesn’t eliminate our heartache. It’s okay to grieve and have hope at the same time.
- Get a physical checkup. Sometimes our struggle has an unrecognized physical cause. If you’ve not been to a doctor in years, or if you don’t take care of the body God gave you, it wouldn’t hurt to get a checkup. Exercise and better health can help restore hope.
- Ask another believer to help you assess your situation. Often, the worst person to evaluate a storm is the one most overwhelmed by the waves. Find somebody who’s not facing the waves, and ask him or her to help you see reality from outside the storm.
- Talk with other believers who’ve been there. Ask your pastor or a friend to help you find someone who’s found victory over what you’re now facing. Somebody else’s victory provides a glimmer of renewal – a few minutes of hope to turn our heart back in the right direction.
- Read Hebrews 11 over and over again. The “hall of faith” chapter includes stories of heroes who faced challenges, struggles, difficulties, mistreatment, and death – all the while trusting God. They surely struggled at times, but they found victory in God anyway. You can, too.
- Take at least one step of obedience even if you don’t feel like it. Faith that overcomes hopelessness does not wait to “feel” good before acting; instead, it acts in obedience regardless of how we feel. So, read a chapter of your Bible. Say a short prayer. Go back to church if you’ve stopped attending. Give to God’s work. Serve your co-worker or neighbor. Step out in faith, and trust God to respond to your obedience.
What else have you done to overcome hopelessness in the past? How might we pray for you?
Seek out a Biblical (Neuthetic) Counselor (different than a ‘Christian counselor’) that can teach how to walk in God’s promises day by day, not just use verses as a band aid. https://biblicalcounseling.com/ #lifechanging Similar to #4, bring someone into the situation with you (if you can find a wise trusted person who is willng) and let them in on ‘everything’. Follow their advice, even when you don’t want to.