If we aren’t careful it’s easy to get discouraged. It is easy to exchange the important for the trivial. It is easy to lose sight of what is truly valuable. Unfortunately, we are all guilty of allowing this to happen. We all go through periods of time, whether it is for moments or for seasons, where we lose hope.
The problem with losing hope is that we think the answer to get more hope is just to will ourselves to have more hope. This is wrong and leads to a relentless cycle of hopelessness. The way to get more hope is not to hope for more hope, but to focus on the things that bring hope.
Thankfully, there are places we can go to be restored. There are places to go to be refreshed. It is possible to hope again! Even in the darkest of moments hope can be found. Here are five places to find hope.
Hope is found in grace.
Often, we lose hope because we fail. We fail ourselves. We fail others. We fail Jesus. We measure our worth on our performance. When this happens, it is vital that we step back and recognize that our value is not earned. Let me be clear. You are made in the image of God, chosen before the foundations of the earth, to be brought into his family and his Kingdom. This is not a goal to be earned or won, it is a gift. It is the gift of grace.
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16–17, ESV)
Hope is found in Scripture
It seems that words today are thrown around carelessly. They are used recklessly and often without consequence. However, there is something profound about words that last, that stand the test of time. These are the words of Scripture. They are eternal and they are powerful. They divide the soul and the spirit, revealing the heart. The words of Scripture are God’s words, the same God who spoke life into existence. And when there seems to be no hope, when we have no words of our own, God allows us to use his words.
“My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:81, ESV)
Hope is found in the Gospel.
The Gospel is Good News. It is primarily an announcement, the new king is here and his name is Jesus. He is turning this world upside down. The first become last and the last become first. Insiders become outsiders and outsiders become insiders. A right standing with God is available through faith and not through what we wear or don’t wear, what we eat or don’t eat, and on what days we worship. It is a new Kingdom and it is Jesus’ Kingdom and he is making all things new. Our hope is not in the things we see, but in our King and his everlasting Kingdom.
“because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,” (Colossians 1:5, ESV)
Hope is found in faith.
We can lose hope if we don’t see anything happen. If nothing seems to be moving, if everything has seemed to have stalled. We remember that just because God is silent doesn’t not mean that God is absent. If you can see it, it’s not faith. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of not seen. God is always working his power toward those who are his. He never sleeps, he is always watching and working things together for good.
“For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.” (Galatians 5:5, ESV)
Hope is found in Jesus.
Sometimes we lose hope because we seem adrift. It seems that we have been tossed about by the winds and the waves of this world. It feels that wherever we step we can’t seem to find a sure footing. Thankfully we have Jesus because he is the anchor of our soul. Our lives are secured and established in the fact that Jesus is within the veil. He is our high priest, interceding on our behalf before God, offering forgiveness and cleansing our souls. Because of this we can freely and boldly approach the throne of God. We have assurance because we are anchored in Jesus. And this anchor is secure, it will not break it is unwavering and steadfast.
“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:19–20, ESV)
Where do you go to find hope?