Sometimes we encounter or go through circumstances in our life when we do not understand what is happening. It seems everything is wrong, and there is no way out. Darkness is all around, and fear is lurking deep within. During these times, we seem to ask where is God. Or why is God allowing these things to happen. In fact, some even blame God for what’s happening to them which in fact is merely a result of their wrong choices. Seems no hope.
But amidst the seeming hopelessness, there is hope. The Bible relates stories of three persons who went thru such ordeal only to find hope and victory in the end.
The first was Joseph known as the Dreamer. Joseph was the 11th son of Jacob his first born from his beloved wife Rachel. Just as much as Jacob loved Rachel, he showed the same endearment to Joseph. Such love was so obvious that Joseph’s brothers envied him. On the other hand, Joseph became arrogant and boastful bringing news of his brother’s activities to their father. His brothers resented him even more which eventually lead to plotting evil against their own brother.
Joseph’s disappointment after disappointment. His brothers became one in turning against him. He was taken from his homeland Israel to Egypt far from home of much different culture and language. He was sold as a slave to a ruthless man. Was accused of attempting to rape his master’s scheming wife. Was thrown into prison.
But during these times, Joseph was not deterred. He remained steadfast, and did his work excellently. No matter what the chore may have been, no matter how trivial, he gave his best.
Then God’s deliverance came. The Bible says God was with Joseph. All through those lonely perplexing times from a teenager to an adult, God guided the steps of Joseph. He was there all the way. He molded Joseph thru the passage of time. And when the time was ripe and the man having learned and acquired the skills needed and was prepared to lead, he was delivered thru the Pharaoh’s dream and became the second in the foreign land next to no one except the Pharaoh himself.
In his hopelessness, Joseph found hope in God. He learned to trust God and do his best and eventually his hope bore fruit with rewards beyond his wildest dream.
The second recorded person who went through hopelessness was Peter. He was imprisoned not for his own making but simply because of the whimsical gratification of King Herod to please the Jews who were delighted with the death of James whom the king struck with a sword.
Chained between two prison guards, Peter might have questioned God for such seemingly unfair treatment. He left his family and profession for the sake of the gospel of Christ, and this is what he got in return. But Peter learned thru the years that God is faithful. He slept soundly on the eve of his death verdict.
God’s deliverance came miraculously when an angel was sent to take him out of prison. The angel had to strike Peter on the side to wake him up because Peter was fast asleep not worrying what tomorrow would bring. His weapon was the ceaseless prayer of the church for him that opened the heaven’s door and sent down an angel of God to deliver him.
In his hopelessness, Peter found God’s faithfulness as his anchor of hope. God molded Peter through the years through many circumstances in his life. He became a changed man. From being hot tempered and self-assuring yet weak, Peter became a reasonable and strong. And sure enough, the enemy did not prevail against him in taking away his life needlessly for God did not fail him.
Thirdly, the event of Paul with Silas was recorded to show that amidst hopelessness hope would shine.
Paul was imprisoned because he rebuked the evil spirit in a slave young girl who was a fortune teller to the consternation of his masters who lost income who sent Paul to prison. But inside the prison, Paul was not moved. Together with Silas, in the middle of the night he prayed and sang hymns. He went through enough sufferings and God’s deliverance that he was sure the hand of God would move. Rescued or not, he would praise God.
Honoring his servants’ faith, God sent a mighty earthquake so strong that it unshackled the prisoners. This event became a turning point for the prisoners and the jailer for in that moment they believed in God and turned their hearts to Christ. Paul’s seeming disappointment became an opportunity for the gospel to be preached and seen in action leading many to salvation thru Christ Jesus.
Praising God in the midst of hopelessness was Paul’s way of finding freedom.
So in the midst of hopelessness, remember:
1. Look for the good things in your circumstances. Do your best still. Have faith. Look at the rainbows not the rain. Plant good seeds and not bitter seeds for in the end you will reap good harvest;
2. Pray. Prayer is a weapon so powerful that even heaven is opened to send relief for you. Pray individually, corporately, with prayer partner;
3. Praise God. Sing melody from your heart. When you wake up afraid and worried, sing to God instead of crying or murmuring. You will see wonderful things that will happen in your life. Praise and worship is so powerful a weapon that even things unmovable would be shaken to free you.
Above all, remember that there is One who went through the way of hopelessness even death so that you would find hope. His Name is Jesus Christ! He did not give up on you even in Gethsemane when He would have the chance to run away knowing and seeing the unspeakable sufferings and humiliation he would have to go through. His blood that was shed in Calvary cleanses all the blot of hopelessness in your life. He loves you so much that he willingly went through the dark hopelessness for you to have the shining hope.
He loves you. That is the only reason for doing all these. So in the midst of your seeming hopeless situation, don’t give up. Hold on to Christ. Believe in Him. Deliverance is on the way, and it would surely come. Have faith.
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