3 Ways to Regain the Hope You've Lost

1. Retrace Your Steps

When children lose something important, parents often advise them to retrace their steps back to the point when they last saw the beloved item. With a little guidance, they eventually discover what was lost and are happy once again.

With this word picture in mind, when was the last time you had hope - hope for a bright and beautiful future? Where would you find yourself if you were to retrace your steps to that time and place? Perhaps it's been years since you last felt hopeful. Or maybe it was only a few months ago that your heart was filled with excitement and anticipation for the future. No matter how long ago it was, ask God to help you retrace your steps and revisit that peaceful season once again.

Keep in mind that the goal isn't to live in the past but to remember what hope felt like. Sometimes, our world becomes so clouded that we forget how the bright rays of heavenly hope are meant to fill our lives with abundant joy. Things might not look the same as they once did, but with God's loving guidance, things can be even more wonderful than before. It could be that you'll regain a sense of joyful anticipation for the future by rediscovering your last glimmer of hope.

Romans 15:13 says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." One of the keywords in this passage is "trust." Will you trust God to fill you with overflowing hope by the power of His Spirit? Don't be afraid to retrace your steps. You might just find a few treasures along the way - treasures of newfound trust in the God of all hope.

A Prayer for Newfound Hope:

Heavenly Father, I can't remember the last time I had hope for a bright future. Please help me retrace my steps and recall a season where my hope was secure in You. Thank You for leading me and helping me regain some of the joy and peace I've lost. Truly, You are the God of all hope, and I trust You today, in Jesus's holy name. Amen.

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2. Rethink What Hope Means

In human terms, "hope" is referred to as a wish or a desired outcome. However, the Bible defines hope as the confident expectation of receiving what God has promised. What a difference!

When your hope seems lost, take some time to think about what it truly means to you. Are you placing your hope in wishes or temporal desires, or are you eagerly awaiting the fulfillment of God's promises over your life? Doing a deeper Bible study that focuses on God's promises might be helpful so you are certain of what they are.

In the article, 35 Promises of God to Cling to Every Day, we are reminded that "When we draw closer to God through prayer and reading His Word to us, He promises to come near to us! What a beautiful invitation for an intimate relationship with our Lord and Savior."

James 4:8 says, "Come near to God, and He will come near to you." This is a foundational promise you can count on when hope seems lost. And as you draw near to Him, He will remind you of every precious promise He's made. It is from this place of intimacy with the Creator that hope is sure to be regained. Surrender your wishes and desires to the One who is with you and promises to walk with you in the days ahead. Remember that He is a good Father who loves giving His children good gifts. What a difference this can make towards a brighter, hope-filled future!

A Prayer for True Hope:

Gracious God, please forgive me for placing my hope in anyone or anything besides You. I know that Your promises are trustworthy and true. I need Your help redirecting my desires from earthly things to heavenly promises. Thank You for changing my perspective so I can look forward to a future full of life and hope. In Jesus' precious name, amen.

3. Release the Unknown Future

It's human nature to want to know what happens next. For planners, in particular, it's difficult to release the future to the Lord without knowing exactly how it will turn out. However, when we try too hard to control everything, we eventually find ourselves hitting a wall of defeat and even despair.

To regain the hope you've lost, focus on releasing an unknown future to a Sovereign God who loves you. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He sees the big picture of your life, and You can release the controls to Him.

In the devotional, A Prayer to Release to God What We Cannot Control, Debbie McDaniel writes, "Let's press in close, and reach out to the One who is All-powerful, compassionate, loving, and kind. He knows already the wounds and troubles we've carried, He knows the pain and worries we've felt, He knows how much we've tried to let go and fix things in our own power. Let's choose to believe that our situation or circumstance is never too big for Him to bring healing and freedom. He is Able. Nothing is too difficult for Him."

Her words are a powerful reminder for us to believe in God's ability to bring the healing we need. Truly, nothing is too difficult for Him; with Christ, all things are possible. Let Him govern your future with your best in mind. Release everything to Him and receive the outpouring of hope He has for you today!

A Prayer to Release Your Future to God:

Lord, I have tried to control things for far too long and hit a wall of hopelessness and despair. Please pick me back up again and shake off the doubts that threaten to overcome me. I release every worry, care, and concern to You now and receive the hope You offer. I pray this with the belief that You are paving the way for a bright future, in Jesus' mighty name, amen.

Here are a few more resources to help you find hope once again:

How You Can Find Hope from the Darkest Psalm (Psalm 88)

6 Ways Christians Can Find Hope and Courage in Seasons of Strife

Where Can We Find Hope if 'All Is Vanity' According to Ecclesiastes?