Beautiful You Devotional ~March 2021 / Volume 23

Feelings of hopelessness plague us all at one time or another. It is a very human emotion. We should not condemn ourselves when we experience it, but investigate as to why it’s there. Remember a few weeks ago, we talked out emotions being indicators. Hopelessness is an indicator and we should pay attention. Not wallow in it, but give it attention.

Psalm 139 declares, “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.” This knowledge about God is so comforting to me. He knows me inside out. I never have to explain to God. He understands fully. More fully than I do. That’s why it’s important to take our hopelessness to Him. He knows what’s going on and can shed His light and wisdom on the situation and lead me out.

Hopelessness is born out of despair, anger and fear. We feel hopeless when we’ve exhausted all avenues of repair or freedom and are left with only more sorrow. That must have been how the woman with the issue of blood felt in Mark 5. She had done all that she could do naturally and she only grew worse. She had this flow of blood for 12 years! Can you imagine dealing with a problem for 12 years only to find that it was growing worse!?

But she had heard about Jesus and her hope was renewed! She hoped yet again for a cure. How do you hope again after 12 years of suffering, or a lifetime of abuse and despair. I don’t know. It’s supernatural. It was for this woman in Mark. I’m sure that by then she was desperate. Have you ever felt desperate?

Her desperation was met with faith and a miracle happened and she was healed completely of her flow. The Bible says when she touched Jesus’ clothes, immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up!

There is no “answer” to how you do it. You just do it. Moment by moment, day after day until one day freedom comes and you walk out; a little more humble, a little more settled. Broken and quiet.

I believe there is no “how to” when it comes to our feelings, just as there is no “how to” when it comes to grieving a loss, because we are all different. The ‘how to” that works is trusting and clinging to God and His Word. He alone has the answer to our pain and He alone can bring us out. At times, I believe, He allows us to feel despair in order to bring us to total dependence on Him.

Paul even eluded to that truth in 2 Corinthians 1:7-9 “For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.” (Emphasis mine)

We are in good company with Paul and even Jesus when we suffer, because a great glory is being worked in us. It sure doesn’t feel like glory at the time, but the Word of God promises us that no matter the tribulation, glory is being worked in us (2 Corinthians 4:17).

STEP 1- Don’t condemn or beat yourself up if you feel hopeless. Run to God. He is not angry or condemning. Remember Psalm 139. He has searched you. Perhaps even He is bringing it to your attention so you can come to Him.

STEP 2- Pour out your heart to God! Pour out the despair and hopeless feelings, just pour them out. David said in Psalm 62:8 “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”

STEP 3- Trust in His refuge. He is our refuge. Refuge is a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble. God is a refuge. He shelters us from the onslaught of those emotions that seek to overwhelm us and the trouble that desires to keep us without hope. How do you do that? Once you’ve poured out your heart, just sit with God. Allow His Presence to soothe your heart and mind and speak hope to you.

STEP 4- Record your experience in your journal. Whether at a later time or while you are performing the steps. This will be a place of encouragement that you can go back to again and again!

[DISCLAIMER: I am not a licensed counselor or therapist of any kind nor is this devotional an attempt to provide those services. The contents and suggestions in this devotional are results of my own personal experience with these issues and are not meant to be professional advice or therapy. This devotional is not a substitute or replacement for regular therapy or the use of mental health resources. If the content here causes triggers, please see your regular mental health professional. Any content applied to your life along with any consequences is of your own volition.]

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