Then Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NLT  (Verse on Bible Hub)

Is hopelessness crippling you?

Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that can not be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise. — C.S. Lewis

A few years ago, I woke up one morning with a heavy spirit; a very dark and foreboding feeling. As I talked to God, I wondered if this was how people felt before taking their own lives:

sad, depressed, forlorn, hopelessness and filled with dread?

Proverbs 13:12 tells us: “Hope deferred makes a heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

We seek to find hope and fulfillment in venues that can’t supply them to us. For example …

People ::: spouses, boyfriends, children, parents, best friends.

Places ::: a home, vacation, a new office.

Things ::: more money, perfect job, new furniture, false gods (small g)

Maybe you’re trying to find hope by keeping too busy …

All of these provide a sense of false hope because the true hope comes from the Lord. False hope is empty and can lead us into more hopelessness.

Isaiah 40:31 promises: “those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”

And Psalm 62:5 says: “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.”

And everyone knows Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

There’s nothing wrong with having people and things in our lives. God himself put them there, but they were never meant to be our source for hope and fulfillment.  

If we do seek to find hope in people and things, we will always come up empty and unfulfilled. People will always let us down because none of us are perfect. Other people were never meant to fill that empty space that only God can fill.

Psalm 34:18 promises us: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

The night before I woke up with the heavy feeling and a sense of hopelessness, I had watched a show on Netflix about afterlife and other dimensions of life. It made me grieve for all the people who desperately need these things to be true … because they feel anywhere is better than the here and now.

It must grieve Jesus’ heart too because he offers these thing. He is the only way to afterlife and the only other dimension, which is heaven. He watches as people struggle with these hopeless, dark, heavy feelings. But still, they choose to not come to Him.

John 10:10 tells us that “the enemy has come to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus came to give life and give it more abundantly.”

The enemy is the one who will bring false hope into our lives. He knows it will destroy us if we don’t discover the true hope (Jesus) and allow Him to have His way in our lives.

Jesus doesn’t just give us hope. He is our hope.

The LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.
(Psalm 147:11)

In John 14:12 Jesus declares, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you I am going there to prepare a place for you?”

Revelations 7:17 pronounces, “… He will lead them to springs of living water.’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Zephaniah 3:17 oozes God’s love for us! It says, “The lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by his love and He will exult (rejoice, cheer, celebrate) over you with loud singing.”

Can you just imagine God celebrating over you at all, let alone with loud singing?!

It’s just one perfect picture of God’s love for us …

In John 14:6 Jesus declares this truth: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through Me.”

The only other dimension even worth pursuing is heaven and the only way there is through Jesus.

What about you?

• Are you struggling with hopelessness?
• Do you feel like no matter what you do, it’s of no use?
• Do you think the answer lies in the afterlife or another dimension and you want to go there?

Please, I implore you not to give up! Jesus is with you! He desires to have a relationship with you and give you the hope you are seeking.

The Lord desires to give you living waters of joy, peace and contentment and to heal your hurts. Cry out to him. Confess your thoughts, feelings and confusion to him. Be honest with him. If you don’t understand, tell him you don’t understand. As always, He sees your heart and wants to reveal the truth to you and set you free from hopelessness.

If you’ve never accepted Jesus as your Savior, will you pray this prayer with us today?

“Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins and turn from doing things my own way. Today, I surrender my heart to You and ask You to come live inside me. I make You my Lord and Savior and believe that You died for me on the cross so I can live with You forever in Heaven. Baptize me with Your Holy Spirit. I receive Your forgiveness Lord. In Jesus name. Amen.”

If you have thoughts of suicide, please don’t try to go on by yourself …

Call someone you trust, call a professional, call a church, call a suicide hot line ( 1-800-273-8255 ), go to the emergency room of the hospital … even if it feels like no one listens or understands.

We would love to pray for you here as well.

Maybe you know Jesus but you still feel hopeless.

Depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance that needs to be addressed medically. A network of support is necessary. Your network could include a physician, counselor, pastor, others who suffer from depression as well, and close friends who love and accept you as you are.

Maybe you don’t suffer from depression, but you know someone who is. It’s important to become good listeners without correcting, fixing, or making suggestions. Also, if it’s someone close to us, it’s imperative we don’t take it personal. We need to listen with empathy. Empathy speaks love and acceptance when someone desperately needs it.

Sweet heavenly Father, I pray your protection on those who have reached the place of hopelessness and those who suffer from depression. I ask that you be close to the brokenhearted and crushed in spirit and shine your light into the dark hurting places of their hearts where darkness cannot overcome it. Help those who don’t suffer from depression to listen with empathy and to love and accept as you and Jesus do. In Jesus name. Amen

Right now, imagine God celebrating over you with loud singing. How does it make you feel? What could you do to help someone who is fighting with depression? Share with us, we would love to hear from you.

Love,