There is not a feeling that quite compares to sincere hopelessness. It encapsulates characteristics of despair, desperation, fear, and loss, though it is distinctly different than any of those things. It can manage to suck the life out of living and cause even the strongest to stumble. But what makes hopelessness so terrifying to me is that we all will fight it in our life. It will rear its head in the midst of our suffering. It will come out in the midst of our guilt. It feeds on our tears and haunts in our grief. If we are not careful, we could easily fall prey to its efforts. But as Christians, this does not have to be a fierce adversary. We have been blessed with unfettered access to the “Father of Lights” and the “Prince of Peace.” The key to overcoming the attacks of hopelessness is to know how to respond to the dark valleys you must walk through in this life.
We need to employ the redemptive powers of God in our difficult times. Suffering is intrinsically meaningless. It has no value and can produce nothing of worth. Suffering is chaotic, the result of free agents on earth or in the spiritual realm. But it does not have to remain that way. God, in His infinite love, has promised us that He can bring good out of even the most ardent of tragedies. He has given us His word that He will work tirelessly to pull some purpose or growth out of our hardships. This does not mean that we will live a life that is free of pain or hurt, but rather that we will live a life that can rest assured that God is with us and working in our pain and hurt. One of the most powerful verses in all of Scripture about this comes from Romans 8:28 when Paul reminds us that “we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” God has the ability to redeem even the most horrible situation. No matter how terrible the situation may seem, nothing is too far gone to be redeemed. If God can redeem me and you, with all of our sin and baggage, is it not easy to imagine that God has the power to redeem a situation?
Another key to overcoming the attacks of hopelessness that Satan will levy against us is to cling to the hope that has been given us. We have been assured that every minute of every day we have the efforts of the Trinity working together to aid us in our day to day walk. There is no valley we ever walk through alone and no battle we ever have to fight by ourselves. But what is greater still is the knowledge that this life is as bad as it gets. After we finish our fight on earth, we have a home in heaven prepared for us, where we will dwell with the light of God forever. We have–hope. Hope is a powerful thing. Hope is a key fortress against Satan’s attacks. Find refuge in the hope that God has given you. There is nothing that can extinguish that hope because there is nothing that anyone can do to take it from you. The only way that one will lose their hope is if they give it up. Fight to hold on to it. No matter what legions of demons lay in wait, do not give up a single ounce of your fight.
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This life is fleeting. It is uncertain. It is painful. But we have something that is far more secure. We have God. He stands with us, shines on us, and lives in us. When Satan strikes, when you hear the voice of doubt and fear, and when you stand in the valley of death, YOU HAVE GOD. He is your light. He is your king. He is your love. Trust in Him.
Bishop Darby
