Overcoming Hopelessness:
3 Ways to Find Hope Amidst the Dark.
If you ever feel that the daily news headlines are pushing you further and further into a pit, you're certainly not alone in your feelings of hopelessness.
Each day, difficult situations like stories of political turmoil, societal divisions and rising mental health issues confront us. Such narratives make us wonder if we're spiralling into an era of hopelessness and despair.
Experts report that Millennials and Generation Z’s are the most stressed and isolated generation, even going so far as to label them the ‘Hopeless Generation’
Is this really the bleak future we're bound to? I say no.
We all crave hope.
We yearn to escape the suffocating grip of hopelessness. But to successfully do this, we first need to address three major misconceptions about the nature of hope that could hinder our transformative journey out of despair.
You could say I’m on a mission to ‘rebrand’ the shallow, Hallmark-card version of hope that’s become society’s norm…
Unlock the force of hope in life’s hardest fights.
Your greatest good starts at your deepest pain. Download the PDF devotional ‘The Tide-Turning Power of Hope’ and get good at handling the ‘bad’.
The Illusion of Perfection – cliché hope.
Many mistakenly believe in the dream of a life devoid of challenges. This unrealistic hope suggests that by adhering to certain lifestyles or principles, we can sidestep life's storms, by securing the ideal life, home, and career.
That if they gather enough wealth, influence, or powerful allies, these will shield them from life's hardships.
But reality and scripture both challenge this notion. In John 16:33, Jesus stated that troubles are inevitable, but he also assured us of his triumph over the world. This wasn't to disillusion us, but rather to reinforce that it's not the challenges, but our reaction to them that truly defines us. Relying on a hollow promise of a pain-free life isn't just futile; it can exacerbate a sense of hopelessness, especially for those already grappling with life's very real and profound problems.
True hope, as described biblically, is a "confident expectation." Rooted in our faith, this hope hinges on Christ's salvation (Romans 8:24-25; Hebrews 11:1, 7). However, without this trust in God, we risk falling into hopelessness (Ephesians 2:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:13).
“But true hope is not hype. It’s not pretending that everything is fine. Hardship, not perfection, is the starting point of hope. ”
Going beyond Outcome-Based Hope
Statements like “God won't burden us beyond our capacity” might seem comforting, but they're not scripturally accurate. God isn’t the origin of our troubles, but he is our redeemer, navigating us through life's roughest patches.
Promises of God's love, power, and blessings are undeniably true. However, tying our hope only to desired outcomes can lead us to falter when faced with life's unpredictable challenges. Faith shouldn't focus solely on blessings received but rather on the Giver of those blessings.
Relying on the belief that unwavering faith ensures a life devoid of suffering isn't biblically sound. Yes, faith is powerful, but it doesn't guarantee a life free from pain. What we can hold onto, however, is when life feels hopeless, God's steadfast presence and his promise will guide us through life's storms (and not around).
“A hope that is anchored to getting everything back, finishing with more money, or seeing bad circumstances become good is fragile. ”
Community-Centric Hope
When we feel despair where do we seek refuge? When our resources, intellect, and networks fall short, where do we turn? Relying solely on our strength leaves us vulnerable to life's unpredictable turns.
Hope doesn’t thrive in isolation. God encourages living within community, stressing the power of shared destinies (Proverbs 13:20). More than just an emotion, hope is tangible and is often found within genuine friendships and a supportive community. It reminds us that we're not meant to tread life's journey alone.
Occasionally, distancing from others isn't due to physical isolation but emotional barriers. Confronting hopelessness requires us to break down these walls and recognize the potential solace in the relationships God has blessed us with.
Life isn’t always a neatly wrapped package. It has its highs and heart-wrenching lows. But if everything was predictably perfect, hope would be unnecessary. Hope is there because we don’t always get the answers we pray for.
It might feel counterintuitive, but hope shines brightest when life feels hopeless. While we navigate this intricate story of life, remember that we've already been promised a hopeful end. Even amidst this chaotic chapter, our God is tirelessly working to heal, renew, and restore. Remember, God specializes in hard situations.
“Pain is amplified in the cold rain of loneliness, but it is divided in the warmth of community. ”
Unlock the force of hope in life’s hardest fights.
Your greatest good starts at your deepest pain. Download the PDF devotional ‘The Tide-Turning Power of Hope’ and get good at handling the ‘bad’.
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Feeling hopeless is when you have a sense of despair or lack of motivation. It is when you believe that the situation is unchangeable or that you are unable to find a way out.
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There are some practical actions to overcome feelings of hopelessness. Firstly we can focus on others. Humanity can be a source of pain, yet people are often a true recovery agent from hurt. What gives us hope is the learned habit of taking our eyes off our own problems and looking to a world full of needs. Become a hope ambassador to others. Secondly, forge purpose from your pain. Purpose is not discovered, it’s developed. What if the flaws in your circumstances were not just problems to solve, but catalysts that push me to a better more captivating purpose in my life?
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We often see pain and hope as having irreconcilable differences. But I’m discovering that life is more like a bicycle. Everytime you get on a bicycle, both wheels are in motion. The similarity is this – instead of times in your life where there is only good or only bad, we tend to have a mixture of both. We travel on both wheels at all times. Even on the good days, there’s hardships and annoyances. And even on the worst days, there can be some good. My advice is this – don’t delay joy until all problems are solved. Seize joy in the messy middle you’re in right now. View life as an alloy, and the mixture of hardship and hope will make you stronger.
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There are many ways to support some who is feeling hopeless. Mother Theresa was once asked, “What’s the biggest problem in the world today?” She responded, “We draw the circle of our family too small.” Hope is found in intimacy of relationships. Hope is found in human exchange. Hope flows through friendship. Job’s three friends didn’t just send a card. They travelled from their homes and walked right into his pain. They wept with him. They sat with him silently when he needed. What can you do? Make an actual phone call and ask if you can talk them out for coffee. Drive to their place and bring a meal. Initiate the human exchange of hope. One good friend can change everything.
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I’ve often been on the receiving end of people bringing hope into my world. We need to invest in community. Sometimes, the lack of community is not due to physical isolation but rather insulation. When people go through pain, they often put walls up emotional and retreat. To experience hope, we must push that and take the risk of being vulnerable and proactively invite people into my dust-and-ashes moments. Here are some steps to proactively building a village of hope – strengthen family relationships, build an inner circle of a few dear friends, invest in an extended community such as church, a sports team etc. Community is often the conduit of hope.
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Developing hope when we face small challenges in life prepares us for the larger storms. It’s a misunderstanding to think that hope is reserved only for the obvious crises in life. But our daily attitudes, perspectives and approaches to people ultimately shape us. It’s easy to become accustomed to subtle forms of despair, the gradual weights on the soul. Raising children, the demands of your busy career, relationship struggles – all of us face these kinds of pressures and we need to find hope in these moments too. Don’t be fooled - all of the little daily difficulties eventually can tally up to something that’s much higher than a one-off event, generating a type of ‘hopelessness funnel’. So if hope matters, it certainly matters in the everyday.
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There is never a wrong time to speak to a professional. If you start feeling like the situation is hopeless then talk to someone. You may be experiencing feelings of hopelessness, which may lead or be from anxiety and depression. Reach out for support.
Unlock the force of hope in life’s hardest fights.
Your greatest good starts at your deepest pain. Download the PDF devotional ‘The Tide-Turning Power of Hope’ and get good at handling the ‘bad’.
