Devotionals

Hopelessness

Introduction

Have you ever felt like you're in a pit of despair? Ever wished you had a different life because your life just isn't working out how you want it to? Life does get hard, and we all go through trials, but the key is to find strength in God and rely on Him. Even so, it's not hard to feel hopeless in a hopeless situation. You may feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders and there's nothing you can do. Despite what you may feel, there is hope, and God can restore you. Let's look at how he can do that.

There's so many situations we wish we didn't have to go through. Perhaps you've been through something traumatic or life-changing recently or maybe you're going through it now. Maybe you've already overcome it and are trying to put it in the past. Whatever point you're at in your life, it's not good when you feel like you'll never be happy again. I've gathered a handful of verses for us to go over, so let's start with Revelation 21:4 and discuss some key points for overcoming hopelessness as we read what the Bible has to say.

""'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.""

This verse is talking about our future with God once we die and go to heaven. All things will be made new, and we will no longer feel pain. What you're going through isn't gonna last forever. If you've already dealt with some tough stuff, you know this. It may seem like it will last forever, but I promise you it won't. Everything must come to an end, whether good or bad. Let's move on to another good piece of advice, which is to acknowledge the fact that you're not alone.

God knows what you're going through, He sees you hurting. He hears your cries and He knows what it's like to feel pain. He sent his only son to die for us on the cross. If that isn't pain, I don't know what is. He doesn't enjoy seeing us go through tough times, but he knows that it will make us into stronger people and hopefully more faithful Christians. Some doubt in times of weakness, while others remain strong in their faith, which leads us to another great point.

Trust in God when you're going through the hard times. Don't give up, and don't let go. If anything, the hard times should cause you to rely on God more than ever. He will hold you in His arms and comfort you while you hurt. Just don't forget to praise Him. While you might feel hopeless and full of doubts, God knows what He's doing, and He is in control. Two verses that stick out to me for those who are going through rough times are Psalm 43:5 and Philippians 4:13.

"Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again- my Savior and my God!"
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭43:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Why should you praise God during difficult times? He's done so much for you and the way I see it, the least you can do is praise Him when you don't feel like it. God knows your struggles and how you're feeling, and He's proud of you when you hold on to Him during difficult times. But how do you praise God? Thank Him for a multitude of things like family and friends to help get you through your struggle. You can also praise Him through worship or by reading the Bible and really digging deep into His Word. By praising God, you focus on the good and not the bad. Plus it helps you remember that God's got your back no matter what you're facing.

"I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I love this verse because it's pretty easy to remember and it's a great reminder when you're feeling down and out. Without God, we can't accomplish all that we want to, but with God, we can do everything. It seems too good to be true, like a magical formula that won't work. However your circumstance may seem, verses like Philippians 4:13 give us strength when we're going towards our last resort. Another great and popular verse is Jeremiah 29:11.

‭‭"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

We don't always know why God allows us to go through certain situations, but we do know that something good will come out of it. Our stories don't end with a dark and gloomy chapter. God can flip tragedies around in a heartbeat, turning sorrow into happiness. One of my favorite sayings is 'joy will come in the morning'. It reminds me of God's promise to turn bad situations into life lessons and self-improvement.

As I close, I'd like to remind you that you are loved no matter who you are, which I mean wholeheartedly. You are loved. I hope you never feel like you're worthless, but I pray that you trust in God and find encouragement if you do feel like that. It pains me when people feel as if they have no one to turn to. If you feel that way, please don't hesitate to message me. I won't ask questions; all you have to do is ask for prayer and I will do it. You deserve to be heard, and I want nothing more than to help you. Thank you so much for reading and please share this devotional with a friend if you think they could benefit from it. Lots of love!