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Hopelessness – Snares in the Deep, Part 2
45 – Hopelessness – snares in the deep, part 2
There are dangers in the deep, snares planted by the enemy of our souls to entangle us and keep us trapped in darkness and doubt. Today we’re exploring the most dangerous snare of all: hopelessness. But here’s the good news: There is ALWAYS hope when God is on our side. So come join the discussion on how to avoid—or escape—the snare of hopelessness.
Show notes
In part one of our series on snares in the deep (episode 44, and I encourage you to go back and listen to that if you haven’t) we talked about the snare of resentment. While resentment can build feelings of anger and frustration, this week’s snare can suck all your feelings away and leave you in a wasteland. Empty. Starving. Hopeless.
And that, my friends, is the snare we’re focusing on today. Hopelessness.
Hopelessness can lead to:
* Giving up
* Being isolated
* Being more vulnerable to attacks from the enemy of our soul
* Depression
* Despair
How to avoid the snare of hopelessness:
Keep your hope centered in the right place—on God
* Psalm 25:4-5 says, “Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.” We’re not to hope in things or people or circumstances.
* Psalm 130:7 says, “O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows.” We can hope in Him because He loves us.
Ground yourself in the reality of God’s goodness
* Psalm 145:5-10 says, “I will meditate on Your majestic, glorious splendor and Your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim Your greatness. Everyone will share the story of Your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about Your righteousness. The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all His creation. All of Your works will thank You, Lord, and Your faithful followers will praise You.”
Understand that the deep is just life
* It’s not necessarily a punishment. Jesus experienced the deep to the point of sweating blood. It’s not a declaration of your value, or lack thereof. It just is. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
* You’re not alone. We all go through challenges and slide toward hopelessness.
Focus on things that you have, rather than what you’ve lost
* Be looking for things that give you hope. Purpose to spend time every day doing this, even if only for a moment. Of course, look in Scripture, but look for hope in the immediate, too. In the physical world around you. In things like a child’s joy in the moment, or music, or nature.
Live with your focus on the possibility of the unseen too
* One of my personal definitions of hope is unswerving belief in future possibilities. God is an infinite, boundless God. Infinite hope, infinite possibility. He can do things we can’t see coming. Yes, we should focus on the good things we see, but we should also be asking God daily to help us focus on the things unseen, the eternal things He has for us.
Use Scripture with a truth phrase to create “Affirmations of Hope”
* With God, all things are possible. My feelings don’t change that truth.
* The enemy is a roaring lion, seeking those he may devour. I will NOT be devoured.
* God cares. He loves me for me!
* Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened,
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45 – Hopelessness – snares in the deep, part 2
There are dangers in the deep, snares planted by the enemy of our souls to entangle us and keep us trapped in darkness and doubt. Today we’re exploring the most dangerous snare of all: hopelessness. But here’s the good news: There is ALWAYS hope when God is on our side. So come join the discussion on how to avoid—or escape—the snare of hopelessness.
Show notes
In part one of our series on snares in the deep (episode 44, and I encourage you to go back and listen to that if you haven’t) we talked about the snare of resentment. While resentment can build feelings of anger and frustration, this week’s snare can suck all your feelings away and leave you in a wasteland. Empty. Starving. Hopeless.
And that, my friends, is the snare we’re focusing on today. Hopelessness.
Hopelessness can lead to:
* Giving up
* Being isolated
* Being more vulnerable to attacks from the enemy of our soul
* Depression
* Despair
How to avoid the snare of hopelessness:
Keep your hope centered in the right place—on God
* Psalm 25:4-5 says, “Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.” We’re not to hope in things or people or circumstances.
* Psalm 130:7 says, “O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows.” We can hope in Him because He loves us.
Ground yourself in the reality of God’s goodness
* Psalm 145:5-10 says, “I will meditate on Your majestic, glorious splendor and Your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim Your greatness. Everyone will share the story of Your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about Your righteousness. The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all His creation. All of Your works will thank You, Lord, and Your faithful followers will praise You.”
Understand that the deep is just life
* It’s not necessarily a punishment. Jesus experienced the deep to the point of sweating blood. It’s not a declaration of your value, or lack thereof. It just is. “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
* You’re not alone. We all go through challenges and slide toward hopelessness.
Focus on things that you have, rather than what you’ve lost
* Be looking for things that give you hope. Purpose to spend time every day doing this, even if only for a moment. Of course, look in Scripture, but look for hope in the immediate, too. In the physical world around you. In things like a child’s joy in the moment, or music, or nature.
Live with your focus on the possibility of the unseen too
* One of my personal definitions of hope is unswerving belief in future possibilities. God is an infinite, boundless God. Infinite hope, infinite possibility. He can do things we can’t see coming. Yes, we should focus on the good things we see, but we should also be asking God daily to help us focus on the things unseen, the eternal things He has for us.
Use Scripture with a truth phrase to create “Affirmations of Hope”
* With God, all things are possible. My feelings don’t change that truth.
* The enemy is a roaring lion, seeking those he may devour. I will NOT be devoured.
* God cares. He loves me for me!
* Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened,