How many people do you know who are just trudging through life without the sense of a hopeful future? As Believers in Messiah, we have the hope of heaven, knowing that what awaits us there includes no more sorrow, no more sin, and no more tragedy. However, the sometimes unrelenting hardships of this earthly life can weary even strong Believers, slowly draining from them the hope of a brighter tomorrow here on Earth.
Clinically defined, true hopelessness is “a loss of confidence that future events or occurrences will be positive” (Medical Dictionary). Hopelessness is further described by the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association as “the subjective state in which an individual sees limited or no alternatives or personal choices available and is unable to mobilize energy on his/her own behalf” (Medical Dictionary).
True hopelessness is dangerous, according to a website dedicated to suicide prevention. “Most people who feel hopeless have depression, and untreated depression is the number one cause for suicide” (Suicide.org). There’s even an official Hopelessness Scale, a 20-item survey used by clinically trained professionals to determine the risk of suicide in a patient.
No matter what the reasons for loss of hope, God is the Master Hope Giver – and not just for the ultimate hope of heaven, but for today as well. God offers His hope to all Believers, right here, right now. He doesn’t reserve His hope only for those who haven’t made a mess of their lives or for those who appear to have their “acts together.” No, in fact, God sent the greatest gift of hope – Yeshua (Jesus) – to us all while we were at our very worst, in the full depth of our sin. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us” (Romans 5:8). He loves us in spite of the fact that none of us deserve it. He dispenses hope in the same way.
What does hopelessness sound like? Below are some ways that a loss of hope is expressed. (Suicide.org). After each one, we’ve listed hope from the Word of God. Take a look at what God your Hope Giver says in reply, and take hope!
What God Says When You're Losing Hope
Hopelessness says: Things will never get better.
God's Word says: “Behold, I will do something new. Now it will spring forth. Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19 NASB).
Hopelessness says: There are no solutions to my problems.
God's Word says: “For nothing will be impossible with God” (Luke 1:37 TLV).
“What is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18:27 TLV).
Hopelessness says: I will never get over what happened.
God's Word says: “Now we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 TLV).
Hopelessness says: There is no hope for me.
God's Word says: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and shalom (peace) in trusting, so you may overflow with hope in the power of the Ruach ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit)” (Romans 15:13 TLV).
Hopelessness says: It’s too late for me.
God's Word says: “Therefore, if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 TLV).
“He has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 TLV).
Hopelessness says: I only see things getting worse in the future.
God's Word says: “For I know the plans that I have in mind for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for shalom and not calamity—to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 TLV).
God has hope for your today and for your future!
