Hopelessness is defined as having no expectation of good, hope for success, or any anticipation of solution to life’s problems. Those who find themselves in a hopeless frame of mind feel immobilized. They often do not pursue help because they lack confidence hope exists for their situation. Feeling like giving up is common for those who battle hopelessness. They yield, instead, to what they feel is their inevitable fate.

Any show of desperation, however, is a sign that the person is still fighting for hope. These attempts do not necessarily feel good or look hopeful, but they do indicate the inward desire of the heart to be rescued. 

For instance, in the Biblical story of Ruth. Naomi, who was Ruth’s mother-in-law, exhibited desperation on Ruth’s and Orpah’s behalf…while feeling hopeless. She said to her daughters-in-laws, “Return, my daughters! Why should you go with me … the Lord has gone forth against me” (Ruth 1:12,13). In fact, Naomi even went so far as to ask to be called by a new name that meant bitter, labeling her inner hopeless state. She said, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” (Ruth 1:20). These, laments were sparks of hope even though they did not sound like it. Naomi was voicing God’s ability, noting His control. Naomi knew God could help her in a way that she could not help herself.

Job exhibited these desperate glimmers of hope in the midst of what seemed like a hopeless situation, as well. Even though everything he loved had been taken from him he proclaimed,”Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him.” God rescued Job in glorious ways that no human could accomplish on their own.

The pages of the Bible are filled with folks whom God delivered from hopeless situations of the heart. Hopelessness is God’s specialty. He gives hope to the hopeless. The very message of Salvation for the lost is hope for the hopeless. The resurrection of the dead is hope for the hopeless. A new and eternal life, free from pain and disappointment, is hope for the hopeless. 

This world is passing quickly and all the pleasures with it. The wisest man on earth understood the dynamics of this reality. In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon writes of empty and vain pursuits–and spending years doing whatever his heart desired. Money was unlimited for Solomon, and he went from one project to the next. The things he accomplished were what most people only dream of, things deemed fulfillments of life’s ultimate “hopes.” Yet, Solomon saw the hopelessness in it all. 

Solomon addresses the hopelessness in this way: “I said to myself, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself. And behold it too was futility. I said of laughter, ‘It is madness,’ and of pleasure, ‘What does it accomplish?”(Ecclesiastes 2:1, 2)

He ended his observations by writing, “Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God…” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Fearing God is the beginning of Hope found! 

To fear God is to be in awe of His majesty. His ways are bigger, He has plans and abilities beyond our state of hopelessness. He can move the clouds of hopelessness as no one else can.

Blue Skies: Beyond The Dark Clouds Of Broken Thinking inspires overcoming hopelessness’s hold on our minds.

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Joy and peace come from learning to walk in the design God has for our thinking. Every day we battle with old thought patterns and emotions that hold us captive. Blue Skies: Beyond The Dark Clouds Of Broken Thinking leads us step by step; taking us deep into truths that set us free to live into a new narrative, one of confidence and purpose—the story we were meant to live.