Where To Turn When You Lose Hope

A very close, very devoted Christian friend recently told me that they had lost hope. While they still loved God, and still wanted to follow and serve Him, they felt hopeless. The cares of this world had simply become too much to bear, and the struggle to challenging. Hearing this was painful for me, as was sharing this. But, it was also freeing for them because they were no longer alone in this burden.

Bearing Burdens

We are told to help bear the burdens of others in Galatians chapter six. So no matter how much I wanted to run, no matter how much I wanted to say “talk to someone else,” I had to listen. I had to let this individual pour out their deepest sorrows. And just hear what they were saying.

My instinct, of course, was to try and fix it. Read this verse, follow this plan, etc., all ran through my head. But, I kept my mouth closed. See, it wasn’t my job to try and fix anything, but simply to allow them to share and release some of the pain they felt.

It wasn’t easy. And it still isn’t. But I don’t think that bearing one another’s burdens is necessarily about fixing, but listening. Letting them rant and rave, cry or complain, and just empty themselves of the sorrow. It’s keeping confidence and praying for them. Providing encouragement rather than scrutiny. And simply being there when they need you.

I Can Do All Things Through Christ Which Strengthen Me

Over and over, like a soundtrack on repeat, this verse kept running through my head. And I needed it. See, I don’t like to do uncomfortable, and this particular conversation ran way past uncomfortable. For reasons I do not understand this person chose me to listen to their story of feeling hopeless. So I listened, and I kept the verse on repeat. My brain searched for answers and replies, but I kept them to myself.

But I would like to share them with you. Because this world can be a hopeless place. This world can be a place that crushes people in the blink of an eye. And watching it is so painful. So when you feel hopeless or abandoned, or that your path is simply too much to bear read these:

Matthew 11:28-30, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, and 1 Peter 5:6-7

These (and countless other verses) remind us to take our burdens to the Father. Because He cares, He gets it, and He wants to help. It doesn’t mean that He will take it away, but He will see you through. He will guide you, give you strength, and help you get where you need to go.

But you have to be willing. You have to want to finish strong and learn the lesson these burdens are teaching you. Ultimately they will make you better, but you have to keep going. Just like a diamond is created under intense pressure, strong Christians are developed and refined under immense pressure as well. Often these burdens have a way of strengthening our character and faith and preparing us for the future. If, we can just keep pressing on.

Finding Hope

My kids learned a VBS song last year that talked about hope. One of the lines is “my hope is in the Lord.” Overly simplistic, but completely true. Our hope needs to be in Jesus, firmly rooted in His promises. If our hope lies in ourselves, our families, our jobs, we will be setting ourselves up for misery when these things fail us. Because they will. A hope that is firmly placed above though will see us through, even when we feel hopeless. Even when our burdens seem too much to bear.

What are some of your favorite verses for overcoming challenges, burdens, or feelings of hopelessness? Comment below!