When life kicks you in the gut, and the darkness of your hard path feels suffocating, though you long for the comfort of a loved one or friend, what is the one thing you need most?
This isn’t a trick question, but the thing you need most is often the thing you lose first: HOPE.
Sometimes in your pain, disappointment or hurt, you wake up, the sunrise merely a reminder of no relief, no longed-for answers.
The answer in your mind is not “where to go from here” or “what to do next”. Instead, you wonder IF you can move on with another day; you wonder if anything will overcome the hopelessness you feel.
With a mere two months remaining in my One Word journey, Hope lessons abound, speaking deeply into my life. I created a special page on my blog where all my Hope posts live, please take the time to acquaint yourself with the wonders of my journey with this magnificent word.
Lost Hope
I know these things because I have been there; I have felt the icy fingers of hopelessness tighten its grip on my heart. Having my hope criticized, mocked, deferred and even shattered, I slipped into a place where it was easier to give up on hope. Maybe you recognize the results of lost hope:
- Settling for the way things have always been, sitting in a rut because you fear risking hope for change.
- Accepting your current reality as permanent rather than hoping for a better future.
- Leaning on your abilities: what you can achieve and attain rather than placing hope in God’s supernatural power to do the impossible.
- Ignoring hope’s whispers within, choosing complacency instead.
- Becoming a prisoner of fear, doubt, unbelief, despair or cynicism, rather than choosing to become a prisoner of hope.
- Trusting the “facts” of your circumstances, instead of placing faith in the truth of God’s Word.
Though never truly lost, Hope feels illusive in the dark places of discouragement. Yet intentionally choosing Hope changes both our perspective and our circumstances.
Intentionally Choosing Hope
At times, I know I settled for all of the above things simply because they were easier to do. Giving up hope seems easier than risking an outcome I fear. You see, HOPE=FAITH.
““Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
We all trust something or have faith in something. Some people claim they will never trust anyone because no one keeps their word. Others claim they will never trust God because He let them down.
But what we are saying when we say we don’t trust anyone, not even God, is we trust ourselves instead.
As Hebrews 11:1 reminds us, faith gives us confidence for the outcome for which we hope AND the assurance for the unknown.
Through faith we intentionally choose hope, even when everything and everyone around us screams hopelessness. We can do this because Jesus is our hope. He is the steadfast anchor for our soul who will never leave us, and never fail us.
The One Thing You Need
If you walk along a hard path today, your prayers remain unanswered, and you feel alone and hopeless: by faith choose Hope today.
Don’t give up the one thing you need most right now, HOPE. God sees you, hears you, and loves you, trust His timing, trust His promises, trust His love.
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I’m glad you’re still writing and working through Hope, Donna. Hope can feel elusive at times, but there is always reason to maintain hope.
Thank you, Lisa, it has been a challenging year!
Donna thanks for this invitation to intentionally, purposefully choose hope. it’s not a feeling that will come and go. it is a choice. and at times, a very hard one indeed. only by His grace is it done.
Thank you, Linda, for taking the time to read my post. I am learning at times, I must make that intentional choice to choose Hope, when it feels the hardest!
“What we are saying when we say we don’t trust anyone, not even God, is we trust ourselves instead.” Wow, Donna, this is such a good point. I can’t think of anything worse than giving up on hope and putting my trust in myself. So thankful that we can, as you say, trust in God’s timing, promises and love. Hugs, friend.
Lois, it took me awhile to realize the truth that if we insist we don’t trust anyone, even God, we are actually preferring to trust in ourselves. Absurd when you think about it, but somehow it comes down to control. And who better to be in control? God of course!
I’ve been there– woken up preferring not to wake-up as my circumstances felt hopeless. It really was someone speaking the hope we have in God that got me up and going. I believe your words will bless another who feels like not getting out of bed this day! Yes, our hope comes from God. His mercy is new every morning!
Lynn, thank you for your kind words today. How thankful I am to know God surrounds us with support just when we need it most!
I’m so thankful He never leaves us, Donna, even in the darkest valley, He is there with us. Knowing He is near brings both comfort and hope to our hearts.
Amen, Lisa, knowing He is always with us helps us hold onto Hope in dark times.
“Hope changes both our perspective and our circumstances.” I sat looking at those words for a bit. Hope is able to change both because hope is founded in the name of Jesus. He is our hope. He is our stay. Thank you for reminding me to keep my hope alive, to keep trusting God in all things, for He will not ever fail us.
Thank you, Joanne for pondering with me how to keep a hold of Hope when life knocks us down. Yes, remembering the source of true Hope makes all the difference!