During hard or stressful times you may lose hope, become confused on next steps, or doubt the goodness that is instore for your future. The problem with losing hope is that it makes you want to stop progressing. Maybe it’s because you’re not seeing the results you think that you should or maybe it’s because life has hit so hard that you don’t even feel like fighting back. Living without hope can lead to mental and physical stressors. Resting for a period of time is okay. We all have to catch our breath from time to time. But you have to continue pursuing your journey. You have to restore your hope.
For those who are going through difficult times, those who are unsure of what the future holds or what next steps to pursue, and those who are working tirelessly trying to achieve something, but are seeing no success in sight – to anyone who has lost hope – God’s truths will speak to your situation and restore your hope. With your newfound hope, you will see that God has a future beyond what you could have ever imagine for yourself. These truths will set you on the path to pursuing the best version for your life. Here are 7 biblical truths to restore your hope and pursue what God has for you.
Restoring Hope During Difficult Times
Understanding Hope and Why We Need It
Hope and faith are often used interchangeably, but this does not serve the proper nature of either. Faith addresses current state. Whereas hope is all about the future. This is why it’s so easy to lose hope when the future becomes bleak and unknown. Losing hope is what makes you lose your drive to move forward and pursue whatever venture you are on. This is also why losing hope is so bad for the human spirit.
We were made to explore and conquer – it was even commanded to us by God. After God made man and woman, Genesis 1:28 says, “And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Subdue means to overcome. We were meant to beat life’s challenges. Losing hope puts a stop to that. When there is no hope, there is no reason to keep trying.
What Makes Us Lose Hope?
Whether it’s a failed business venture, a struggling relationship or a stagnate stage of life, hope is the light that was pursued up until this point. When continuous effort is applied with little to no change, it can quickly become discouraging and we start to lose hope.
Some people have never had this experience, as their hope was tampered from the very beginning. Some are raised in an environment where hope isn’t instilled in them at all. In fact, quite the opposite. Some are told from a very young age that they will never make anything good of themselves. This is one of the biggest lies that Satan employs on the earth at a rampant pace. It holds people captive and keeps them from their destiny.
Others have dreams of something more, but fear wets down the fire of hope within. The hopes of starting that business, taking that trip, making that leap – whatever that motion is that’s considered “out of the norm”. Fear is crippling. Even though we may feel God placing something on our hearts, we let fear talk us out of pursuing it. So, we put our head down and live a “normal” life.
7 Biblical Truths to Restore Hope During Difficult Times:
1. God Calls Us to Have Hope
In Ephesians 1:18 it says, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you.” Why would God “call” us to hope? God recognizes the that hope is a building block to our very survival and ability to thrive in this life. As any good father, he wants the best for his children. God wants us to lean on him for our future. This is not because he wants us weak or dependent, but rather that his plans and vision for our lives are much grander than what we could sum up ourselves. Therefore, he calls us to hope.
2. God Holds Our Future
When it comes to the future that God calls us to hope for, he’s positioned himself as faithful and ready to advance us. Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” In this world, the word “promise” can hold very little weight. People break promises all the time. Not God. When we pursue him, he will execute on his promises and will for our life. This means, when you’re pursuing God and his will for your life, no one can stop you from your destiny. Even if things seem bleak right now, keep the hope because God will always deliver on his promises.
3. God Wants Us to Persevere
Hope can seem to be illusive since it’s intangible. However, so is the concept of tomorrow. Just as you can’t see what tomorrow will bring, hope cannot be seen either. I like this verse in Romans 8:24, “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?” This is the beautiful balance that God brings to our lives. Asking us to trust in him to navigate the future that we can’t see.
It can be difficult to push forward when the future is unclear. That is where God meets this challenge with perseverance. Isaiah 40:31 says, “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” This life requires grit. Especially when you’re pursuing something that you can’t see or hold in the current moment. God tells us that our hope in him is the antidote to giving up.
4. God Wants Us to Have a Life of Abundance
God made it clear in John 10:10 that he wants us to have an abundant life. “The thief cometh not but to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” Give yourself permission to take hold of the abundant life that God has planned for you. You are enough and you do deserve to have a great life!
5. God Will Grow You Before He Promotes You
When you’re discouraged, it’s difficult to see the good or the opportunity that is around you. Sometimes our delay is not a denial, but occurs because there is something that we need to learn during that season. Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” During these seasons of growth, be thankful and continue to ask God for guidance. Is there something you need to learn, a skill you need to develop, or maybe God just wants to strengthen your relationship with him. Be open to learning sometime new or refining a current skill during this time of waiting.
6. God Wants Us to Continuously Praise
It’s easy for an ambitious person to continue looking forward at the next mountain to climb. What’s not always easy is to reflect on the journey to this point. Take time to look back and recognize how far you’ve come. Give praise to God for that. Psalm 71:14 says, “As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.” God loves a praise filled heart. Remind yourself of the times that God has come through for you thus far. Let that be reassuring as you move forward and, most importantly, be a reason for you to celebrate and offer God praise for what he’s done.
7. God Wants Us to Follow His Timing
Lastly, we have to be patient. God’s timing is something we can never predict or plan for ourselves. As frustrating as it is, understand that we are only operating in the world that we see, but God is operating in all realms. He is orchestrating a number of people, places and timings. Something we could never do for ourselves. At the same time, he’s growing and developing you so that you’re fit for this next season. Psalm 130:5 says, “I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.”
A Prayer to Restore Hope:
Father God, thank you for the journey that I’m on. Thank you for the ways you’ve pulled me out and have grown me to this point. I know you have promised good things for me and mine. But, Lord, I’m frustrated at the current moment. You ask me to cast all of my burdens onto you so I give this frustration to you. Thank you for understanding me. I ask for your direction and sovereign hand during this season of life. Make me aware of ways that you are growing me and help me to stay encouraged and hopeful during this time. May your will be done and may glory be brought to you. In your name I pray. Amen.
Mind Mapping
Have you ever heard of mind mapping?
Mind mapping was formed within the practice of brainstorming, visual thinking and problem solving.
A mind map is a diagram used to visually organize information in a linear fashion that evolves from a macro-to-micro view of a concept or thought.
Mind mapping allows you to organize and analyze your thoughts and emotions. You’re able to perform a root-cause analysis, identifying the reasons behind certain thoughts and emotions. Afterwards, you’re in a position to take action!
Check out this resource, by clicking the photo below!
