5 Ways to Hope in God When You Feel Hopeless

Romans 8:23-25 shares, “Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."

The Holy Spirit indwells in our hearts to encourage us in the truth, and to encourage us to dare to hope. Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were well into their old age without a child or heir. It seems they had lost any hope or belief that this could change for a natural child until God brought about a new hope that would not only change their lives but change the world. Their hope was a promised son to come in the future, a son who would be a root in the line of genealogy that God would choose to bless by having His own Son born into years later. Hebrews 11:11 shares of Sarah’s faith as a mother, “And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.” It was her own patient hope that came into agreement that indeed God was faithful, and that God would fulfill the promise spoken to her. Without that hope, she would have never dared to think she would have her own natural child, yet God had the final say.  

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Hope in Jesus is coming into agreement and faith that the work Jesus accomplished on the cross was for each and every person including you. Jesus died a horrific death but was raised again just as He said He would, freeing humans from the bondage of sin and death. When we come into hope in Him, we come into the belief that just as He did exactly as He said He would on earth, He will do the same in giving us life eternal with Him in Heaven. It is as it says in 1 Corinthians 15:54-58, 

“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 

Here on earth in the meantime, as we live out the lives He has graciously given us we can stand in hope that He will accomplish beautiful things through and in us. This hope of Christ is not just for beyond the veil, but it is for the here and now.

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Here's How to Hope in God When You Feel Hopeless:

When life feels hopeless, and even when it doesn’t, drawing close to God is important. The Lord desires to have a deep and meaningful relationship with us, and if we really do put our hope in Him, don’t we want to know Him a little better in the process? Seeking Him through prayer, time in the Word, and just asking to hear Him in unique ways opens the gate to know Him more. We can rest assured in His promises in the Bible when we feel hopeless. Promises like, Psalm 147:11 “the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.” This verse does not mean fear as in terror, rather, those who respect and honor Him. The Lord wants to pour out His love, wisdom, comfort, and hope to you in moments where everything feels hopeless. 

Seeking His heart in such times can offer clarity and direction as well. In 1 Kings 19 Elijah went out into the wilderness to seek the heart of the Lord, and he thought he would find it in a great storm or thunderous roar, but it was in a gentle whisper that the Lord reached him. He was given clear guidance and wisdom of what to do next when he slowed down to just listen to the loving voice of the Lord. Seeking His heart for not just what to do next, but for the active hope that better will come is essential. 

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Hope requires patience and the willingness to wait for an answer, solution, or change. That waiting period is not a punishment as many would think it is, rather, it is a time for a change within or work to be done. Romans 8:24 shares, 

“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." 

Since what is being hoped for is not yet there, patience is required. This patience will yield blessing and reward in the process, not just the ending. Much like waiting for a savory meal from a crockpot, it will take time. Sure, a microwave meal would be finished far more quickly, but it would be lacking in the richness and the quenching of a desire for such an awaited masterpiece meal. The work of God is similar in that the hope desired will be that much more glorious when waited upon in the right timing. 

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Listening to the wisdom of others who have endured hopeless situations will be a blessing in bleak times in life. A mentor, a friend, or a family member can be an asset during the time. Many of us have seen storms that looked impossible to recover from, yet somewhere along the way, hope was a great light in the darkness. Ask the Lord to highlight someone to you, or give you the courage to ask others for hope in such a time. Often times there can even be support groups or small groups for specific trials.  

The Church is to be a community of believers supporting and encouraging one another in their journeys, especially in times of hardship. Your story matters and it may be the very thing that helps another person overcome an obstacle in their own life. As 2 Corinthians 1:4 shares, “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” Seeking out support and wisdom from others will bode blessing.

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It is imperative in times of feeling hopeless to recall how He has been faithful in the past, and how He will do it again. Psalm 119:90 reminds us, “Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.” God has been faithful in the past to His children and to us individually, and He will do it again. We can trust Him, we can find our hope in Him that just as He came through in the past so He will prove Himself trustworthy again. Listing victories, you have seen Him do will be a comfort in times where the road seems to end. King David would recall to the Lord in Psalms of the triumphs he had seen the Lord do, and he would boost his own hope in those glories. Trusting and believing that God will not cease to be faithful, rather, that He is writing yet another story of His victory in your life is what it means to abide in hope.

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In just about any story in the Bible, there is a story of someone who feels like their situation is hopeless and then God comes in with a glorious hope and promise, and through ups and downs and twists and turns He remains faithful to them all. There are even examples where there is not a specific hope promised, but the hope that He will come through nevertheless. This is evident in the life of Ruth. 

Ruth had been married for some time and lived with her husband and his family. Suddenly her husband, her brother-in-law, and father-in-law all perish leaving Ruth, her mother-in-law, Naomi, and sister-in-law all widows. Naomi felt completely hopeless and suggested the young women return to their father’s homes. Ruth was not given a specific promise from what we are told in Scripture, but she rests in the hope that the Lord will see her through despite her circumstances and she remains in her commitment to Naomi’s family. Despite all that it looked in the natural, God was working on her behalf the entire time. Her enduring hope would play out in an unexpected twist of her meeting a handsome and generous fellow, Boaz. Because Ruth stood in faith and dared to hope that God would come through for her life, she found herself at the exact place at the exact time to meet Boaz and go on to live a happy life with a loving future. 

Even when circumstances seem near impossible to change, we can rest in the hope that God is working on our behalf. God has a plan, and it is good. An unexpected turn around may be just around the corner.  

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

Hope in itself is the catalyst for victory. Abiding in hope means that you are choosing to abide and trust that God Himself will work all things, not just some, for the good of those who love Him, and for His purposes and glory. In times where everything appears to be completely hopeless, we can confidently stand in the security that He is not finished working. We can seek His face for guidance and encouragement, we can list out His victories in the past, we can listen to the stories of those who have gone ahead of us in similar journeys, we can wait in the presence of the Lord, and we can expect the unexpected blessing and works of God. The Lord works on your behalf for His best, so seek His heart and never lose the lifeline of hope.

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