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How to Stay Hopeful When Things Seem Helpless

D o you know someone who is on the path to destruction? Someone making the wrong choices in life and unwilling to listen to counsel—or unable to overcome addiction so they can make reasoned choices.

It’s heartbreaking to watch them self-destruct. If you’re close to the situation, you feel helpless as you watch and can do nothing to halt their steady decline.

We celebrate the fact that God gives us free will . . . until we want to take control of someone we love in order to rescue them from self-destruction. All efforts are futile. There’s nothing you can do if that person doesn’t choose to listen.

Nothing but pray, seeking God’s mercy and intervention.

There are many situations where you are helpless to fix the problem, times of sickness, financial stress, relational problems, and more. Times when you’re easily overwhelmed by the circumstances and find it difficult to keep going.

If you aren’t careful, it can affect you too. As you grieve your loss—of hopes, dreams, relationship, productivity, even life–it robs you of peace and joy. If you let it, you’ll be pulled into the vortex of the difficulty.

If you remain focused on the problem, trying to figure out what you can do and how you can help, the darkness of helplessness and hopelessness will engulf you.

Jesus said, “if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matt. 6:23). That’s what the enemy wants, for us to lose sight of the Light and walk in darkness.

Don’t let the enemy pull you down. Several simple steps will help you live in victory, even in the midst of the trial.

Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12), and the source of our light (Eph 5:14). Furthermore, He called us out of darkness and into His light (1 Pet. 2:9), and told us to seek Him (Mt. 6:33).

As you seek God, your eyes will be toward the light, allowing your body to be filled with light—with hope, strength, faith, peace. When your soul is weighted down, turn your eyes on Jesus to let the light in and chase away the darkness.

You can’t ignore the problem. It’s too much in your face and/or too deep in your heart. When darkness begins to invade, bringing fear, confusion, helplessness, anger, hopelessness, guilt, or . . ., run to the Light. Gaze into Christ’s marvelous face.

If you want to walk in daily victory, gaze at the Lord and glance at the problem throughout the day. Don’t give the darkness a chance to creep in. Live with you gaze on Him.

God is bigger than any problem that we might face. Give Him all your worries and cares. He has won the victory.

Taking the problem to Jesus doesn’t guarantee it will work out the way you imagine, but He will not leave you (Mt. 28:20). He will not let the burden be greater than you can stand (1 Cor. 10:13), and He will strengthen you for the journey (Ps. 31:24).

Furthermore, you can be confident that when things don’t go your way, it’s because He has purposes that are beyond our understanding (Is:55:9, Rom 8:28). When things seem overwhelming to us, later we can often see how He worked good out of the devastating trial.

Second, remember that God is bigger than the problem. Think of times when He has been faithful in your life—times when He rescued you or when he worked good out of what seemed bad. Think on the times He was faithful in the lives of Bible heroes: David and Goliath, the miracles that freed Israel from Egypt, Daniel in the lion’s den, and so forth. God is sovereign. He has power over all, and He is faithful.

Third, ask the Lord for a rhema. Ask Him to speak to you and listen for His answer through His Word. Read the Bible seeking His Word for you for NOW, the verse or the phrase that jumps off the page and speaks to you, filling you with hope. Then hold onto that Word when your faith begins to falter.

Memorize it so it becomes part of you and will be quick to come to mind. It will be your salvation.

God said, “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh” (Prov. 4:20-22).

In one particular relational struggle, God told me, “Don’t return evil for evil, but give a blessing instead, for you were called that you might inherit a blessing” (1Pet. 3:8).

Another time, He said, “Fear not!” (I was terrified of what I imagined for my loved one.), “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, . . . for I will fight for you, and you will hold your peace” (Ex. 14:13-14). (I was worried sick about how to “fix” the situation, but God told me to be still. When I began to fret, I held onto this verse and God did fight for me. He took care of it.)

Our hope is in the Lord. Not in ourselves. Not in other people. Not in the circumstances. If darkness of helplessness or hopelessness threatens to steal your joy and peace, run to Jesus. He is our hope and the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2).

“Isaiah says: ‘There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him [Jesus] the Gentiles shall hope.’ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:12-13).

 

 

How Can I Be Light in Darkness?

As Christians, we’re called to be light in the midst of darkness, to represent Christ to those who don’t know Him by letting His light shine through us.

I sometimes wonder how to do that. When I read FaceBook posts that spread lies about Christians, their beliefs, and their actions, I want to protest. I’m tempted to defend myself, my faith, and my Lord. But, it seems that will only stir up conflict. What does it mean to let your light shine in times of anger, manipulative lies, and name-calling?

So far, I’ve held my tongue, but the temptation to strike back reveals my heart. It’s clear that the old man is still kicking within.

Consequently, I sometimes wonder, “How should I respond to ‘them,’ to those with opposing views that are so vocal and in my face? What does a Christian act like in these times?”

Jeff Bramel shared from Romans 12 that gave clear guidelines on what the Christian life looks like. Furthermore, Paul lived in a time similar to ours, when immorality and corruption were rampant. He was speaking to believers who would have questions similar to ours.

I’m sure it isn’t even complete, but these verses are full of guidelines that are suitable for us today and are worthy of contemplation and prayer.

Paul told the Romans:

  • Abhor what is evil;
  • Cling to what is good (v. 9).
  • Be devoted to one another in brotherly love;
  • Give preference to one another in honor (v. 10);
  • Don’t lag behind in diligence,
  • Be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord (v.11);
  • Rejoicing in hope,
  • Persevere in tribulation,
  • Be devoted to prayer (v. 12),
  • Contribute to the needs of the saints,
  • Practicing hospitality (v. 13).
  • Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not (v.14).
  • Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep (v.15).
  • Be of the same mind toward one another;
  • Do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly.
  • Do not be wise in your own estimation (v. 16).
  • Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.
  • Respect what is right in the sight of all men (v. 17).
  • If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men (v. 18).
  • Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord (v. 19).
  • “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head” (v. 20).
  • Do not be overcome by evil (v. 21),
  • But overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:9-21 NAS).

This describes what it looks like to walk in right relationships with our fellow man. To consistently check off all the points is a challenge for most of us—especially if the actions come from the heart, rather than forcing an outward show.

And yet, if they are not from the heart, it is an impossible list.

In short, the answer to the question of how to let your light shine in the midst of the darkness, is deeper than I was asking. I wanted to know, “How do I respond? What do I do?”

But, I see by the things that Paul said that I cannot measure up.

Rather, I need to be transformed. I need to be surrendered so that the Lord will work through me and His light will shine through me. Then, He will bring it about, and only then will His purposes be realized through me.

Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

6 And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,

And your judgment as the noonday.

7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;

Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,

Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;

Do not fret, it leads only to evildoing.

9 For evildoers will be cut off,

But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.

(Ps. 37:5-9 NAS)

 

Snares for Today’s Christian – Part 3: What Can I Do?

As darkness gets darker in the world, I’m tempted to make my voice heard and fight 1349021113jjoqofor my rights. When pushed, my tendency is to push back.

But I’m reminded that Jesus, who was without sin, didn’t push back when He was pushed. He went to the cross as a lamb to slaughter.

However, I don’t live in Jesus’ day. Maybe God will call me to be vocal, to fight what I see as evil. But for now, He’s called me to be sure my heart is clear, that I’m right with Him, so that when I, personally, am confronted with darkness, I will respond with life and light.

The obvious deviations from God’s design that are increasingly accepted do not tempt me. They are not likely to become a snare for me, but that doesn’t mean I’m lily white.

I’m prone to less obvious sin. Things such as fear, pride, judgment, and self-sufficiency sneak in unnoticed.

If I want to drive back darkness and build the kingdom of God, my first order of business is to get myself right with God. I need to be one with Him so my ears and heart will be open to hear His directions and carry His work with His power.

God has given me steps to take to maintain a right relationship with Him. Some of them are:

BELIEVE: How can we follow if we do not believe? Don’t fall into the trap of framing your beliefs around your experiences or desires.

STAND: Stand firm in Christ and on His Word, don’t be trapped by the lures of the world.

LOVE: If we don’t have love, we like clanging gongs (1 Cor. 13:1) and all our efforts toward change are in vain.

SOW PEACE: Respond to attacks in a spirit of peace, showing love and respect. Leave an opening to share Christ’s love.

  • Ephesians 6:15: Shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;    Eph. 6:15
  • 1 Peter 3:10:  Refrain your tongue from evil. Turn from evil and do good. Seek peace.
  • Matthew 7:12:  Treat people the way you want to be treated.
  • (Also Gal. 5:22-25, Matt. 5:9)

PRAY WITH THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE: Pray for God’s kingdom to be established, in the church and in the world.

These things don’t call for great heroics or direct confrontations. They are basic training. Nevertheless, we are dependent on God working in us to faithful even in the basics. If He doesn’t build the house, we labor in vain as we build it—beginning with the foundation.

May the Lord help us to be a light in the midst of the darkness, free from the snares of the enemy that would try to hold us back. And may we be prepared to hear His voice and be obedient to what He asks of us.

Help us, Lord, to “watch out that the light in [us] may not be darkness” (Luke 11:35 ).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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