What To Do When You See No Hope & Blogger Linkup

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So glad you are here to join us for week 2 in the series, Hope for Hurting Hearts!  Last week we discussed what to do when you feel like there’s no hope.  This week, we’re discussing what to do when you see no hope.

Job had just lost every person on earth dear to him, aside from his wife.  He was afflicted with boils all over his entire body.  Every personal belonging he owned was gone.  As he sat in the ashes, scraping himself, he declares:

Where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me? Job 17:15

Have you ever been at a point where your thoughts line up with Job’s questions in this verse?   I think we all have.   That payment is overdue.  The baby isn’t feeling any better.  The car needs another repair.  And that’s just the beginning.

Remember how we discussed last week that the word “hope,” in certain Biblical context, doesn’t translate to English as a “feeling,” like we would think?  The true translation is “expectation.”  The Bible is very clear about the answer on what do to when you see no hope.  Honestly, it’s not the answer I’d like to give you- because it’s an answer that I battle with every.single.day.  But here we go:

But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Romans 8:25

When we can’t see any hope in a situation, what do we do?

First, wait.

I know. It’s not the glamorous, sweeping, wonderful answer you were anticipating.

I mentioned this verse last week, but it’s well worth repeating!

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. Psalm 130:5

Psalm 130 is a song that the pilgrims would sing as they ascended to the city of Jerusalem. As the travelers grew tired, they would sing to help pass the time and to encourage one another.  What a great reminder for the sojourners to provide to each other!

When you can’t see any hope, not only do you wait, but this verse further explains a step while you are waiting for your answer to the situation.

Secondly, shift focus.

Hope, or expectation, needs to shift from the surrounding hopeless circumstances to God’s Word. When your hope and expectation comes from God’s Word, then hope is secure.

For in You, O LORD, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God. Psalm 38:15 NKJV

I found it interesting that the NIV translates this exact verse:

I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God.

There aren’t always pat answers for the complications of this world. After spending a day yesterday serving at Target: Dayton! ministries and then later, participating in the Passion Center banquet, the day was filled with seeing people who seem to have no hope.

But the Bible is clear that our hope comes from the Lord!

Today I leave you with the ever-encouraging Steven Curtis Chapman.  How he knows the pain of seeing no hope, yet showing hope. Listen to the words. Blessings to you.

Bloggers, here’s your linkup!