It’s confession time, but I hope it helps you, so it’s worth it. I sometimes – maybe often – struggle to maintain hope throughout daily life. Struggles mount as mistakes are happening, ideas are getting shot down, money grows tighter, and personal time gets in high demand among life’s trials. We could also throw in health issues, traumatic events, automobile breakdowns, behaviors of children, etc. My point is, life is a struggle and it sometimes seems like the light that once shone so brightly has been consumed by overwhelming darkness.
Don’t worry, this is no cry for help and I am not planning anything drastically life altering or ending. I just want to share with you that I feel these feelings of desperation and hopelessness at times. This is despite the promise of a living hope in Christ as described in 1 Peter. This is despite knowing that the things of this world are temporal and our time here is really secondary to eternal life in Heaven.
I grew up in an environment where depression ruled the homestead. I have seen darkness that consumes your every thought. I have seen and experienced these struggles and I have spent a lifetime trying to rid these attributes from my life.
But I have yet to have genuine contentment. At times, it seems, even in Christ.
We all struggle to maintain hope at times in our lives. Turn your back on the darkness and allow the light to shine in your life. Photo Credit: Martin Gommel via Compfight cc
Does this mean I no longer believe in the promises of which I dedicate my life? Does this mean there is no hope? Does this mean we are all utterly lost to the darkness? No. And here’s some ways to overcome those times where all hope seems lost.
When Hope Seems Faint
- Begin in Prayer
Nehemiah is regarded as a great hero of Scripture. He beat the odds by mobilizing the remnant of Israel to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. It began with a quiet, unspectacular step by Nehemiah. He made an earnest prayer, asking God for restoration of Jerusalem and committing himself to obedience in the matter (Neh 1:5-11).Nehemiah’s prayer has far-reaching results. It inspires us to see prayer as the catalyst toward any purpose. In sincerely committing our concern – our loss of hope and genuine desire to regain it – to God, we gain a position of strength that is rooted in God. - Stop shoveling darkness
Spending your time focusing on the darkness in your life leads to your inability to acknowledge light. Be Brave. Hold out your Light to hold back the flood of dark. Hat tip to Ann Voskamp. - Go after “small wins”
The longest journeys begin with a single step. Put a check in the win column. A couple or few small wins in a row begin to add up and then momentum builds. As it does, it progressively improves your outlook.
These are just a few of my mechanisms. Now I am interested in hearing yours. We’re all in this together and genuinely want to hear from you. Feel free to comment on this post or shoot me an email.