HOPE, AGAINST ALL HOPE

If we all got vulnerable, we would all admit that there are times in our lives that hopelessness begins to set in. Maybe for some of us it is more than we would like to admit and for others it may be just once in a while. No matter how often one experiences that hopelessness it is a very real thing.

I have been there. I have been in many hopeless situations. I knew humanly it was impossible for me to get that. There can even be a lot of good things going on at the same time. It is like the sun is up but the dark black clouds are moving in. We all know how difficult it is to keep our focus on the sun when the clouds are moving in. And once the clouds are there the sun can’t be seen though it is still there. So, what does one do when in one of these moments?

I have been meditating on Romans 4:18 which says, “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations.” Abraham must have had at least one of these moments. God had promised Abraham so much: God would bless Abraham and Abraham would be a blessing to the nations; Abraham’s offspring would outnumber the stars in the sky. But Abraham was as good as dead he was so old and so was Sarah his wife.

This was impossible. But the Bible tells us Abraham against all hope still hoped and believed. In verses 20 and 21 it says this: “Yet he (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” So here are a few things we can do when facing a moment of hopelessness:

3 HOPES, AGAINST ALL HOPE

Remember the promises

Recognize the lies and speak the truth. Remember the promises of God over your life and claim these promises. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.

Keep the Faith

Move Forward – take steps of faith that move you forward toward the promises. Faith is mostly tested in the most impossible moments of life. Humanly it may be impossible, but with God all things are possible.

Worship God

Know who God is and His power to do what He says He will do and worship Him and give Him thanks. Give Him the glory in the mountains or the valleys. Who am I that He is mindful of me? That He cares for me.

One more thing that might bring a little encouragement. We don’t have to be perfect at this. Abraham messed up royally and even acted out of unbelief when he took Hagar and had Ishmael. He even lived with that unbelief for quite some time but finally repented and sent Hagar and Ismael (unbelief) away. The key is when the revelation comes that we are living out of unbelief we repent and move back to faith and belief.

A lil prayer:

Dear God. Thank You that nothing is too hard for You. Forgive me when I have wasted time and energy worrying about problems I could not solve; and when I have refused to do what You have commanded because I could not see how it might be done. Please help me to believe what You say and to keep trusting You even when all hope is gone. In Jesus' Name. Amen.