When All Seems Lost

Sometimes things just feel hopeless. Maybe we justify our hopelessness by examining our past experiences or by using what we call logic. We may say things like, “I’ve been praying for this thing for over ten years and it hasn’t happened yet. Looks like it never will.” Or, “It would take a miracle for this thing to happen. What are the odds? It’ll likely never happen.”

And after a period of time (whatever we deem reasonable), we exchange hope for resignation, or worse, despair. We stop reading the book because we assume we know how it ends.

The trouble is, we can’t yet know how the story will end. No matter what logic or science or reason tells us about how hopeless our situation is, we serve a God who defies all these limitations. Regularly. Over and over.

Yet we forget so easily.

Sometimes God blesses us with earthly reminders of his power.

Like when a medical emergency lands someone you love in the hospital and they’re airlifted hours away to a bigger hospital because the need is urgent and requires specialists. And once tests are run at the bigger hospital, it shows that everything is already resolved, making doctors shake their heads and say, “This just doesn’t happen.”

With God, things happen.

Or when you’ve been working night and day for years, pouring vast amounts of time and energy into writing and pursuing publication because God put specific stories on your heart, but doors are closing left and right…and then you meet that one editor who gets it and loves your stories almost as much as you do.

With God, things happen.

Or when someone you love is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and everyone who hears about it gives you a sad, knowing look because, of course, pancreatic cancer has a pretty terrible track record. And three years later your loved one is winning the fight, against the expectations of so many professionals.

With God, things happen.

And the most exceptional reminder of God’s power… when an incredible man who came to save humanity was beaten, tortured, and killed, leaving those who believed in him baffled and hopeless. But then God raised him from the dead three days later, and everything he promised came true.

Humanity is saved. No longer does our sinfulness rule the day and make our future hopeless, but God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness give us eternal life.

We have hope.

God has his own unique ways and his own unique timeline. Thank goodness he doesn’t give in to us when we plead for things he knows are ultimately bad for us.

Next time you’re tempted to give up hope, just remember those silent days before God raised Jesus from the dead. That silence wasn’t a sign of God’s departure. It didn’t mean the plan had failed. That silence was only a pregnant pause. An ellipsis. Dot dot dot.

Don’t lose hope. Your story isn’t over yet. And you can trust the author.

(How have you experienced God’s power here on earth? I’d love to hear about it in the comments! The examples I used above are real experiences from my life just from this year alone!)