The Secret to Having Hope is Not Seeking It

“Without Christ there is no hope.”

-Charles Spurgeon

Life can feel like a downer sometimes.

It can feel that it is impossible to get things in a better spot. Whether it is your work situation, some bad relationship you have in your life, or seeing the state of our world, sometimes things look bleak. I’ve been there. When it happens, it is difficult to look at life through rose-colored glasses.

In these circumstances, people try to encourage us. Maybe someone well-intentioned will turn to us, put a hand on our shoulder and say “Have hope!” I don’t know about you, but that always bothers me. Because inevitably, it makes me wonder, “Why? What is there to hope? Everything is going crazy!” Just because someone says to have hope, I can now magically have it?

How do we have hope as Christians? Romans 12:12 says for us to “be joyful in hope”. And certainly, Jesus is the hope of the world. Yet, how can we do this? How do we have hope in a world that’s often hopeless?

It wasn’t until a time in seminary that I felt God taught me the key to being a person of hope. During this time, I was going through finals, and it was a highly stressful time. On top of that, ministry pressures were very high. I was pretty sure everything was going to fail. I was so overwhelmed, I was certain that there was no hope things would turn out well.

In that stress and anxiety, I felt God whisper to me:

"Just worship me!"

“Worship you?” I was in the middle of studying and preparing. “I don’t have time to worship you!” I thought to myself.

But his nudging was so strong. I gave up. I put down my books, and pen, and I just blasted worship music. I just started singing.

And suddenly, something happened–all this stress began to melt away. Like ice against the sun, his presence thawed away all the feelings of hopelessness. I started singing with joy as I declared God’s praises. Instead of dread, I was filled with hope.

What an incredible experience! I still remember it to this day. What changed? My circumstances didn’t change. The problems were still there! So what was different? I saw God.

The secret to hope is not seeking it. It’s because it is not hope we seek; it is God that we seek. And when we see God for who he is, hope comes more easily.

This reminds me of a passage in Psalm 46:

God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.

Psalm 46 describes the craziness of our world. Things are shaking, and everyone is in trouble. And in the middle of it, it gives the famous passage that we all know:

Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

In the midst of crazy seasons, we are to be still and know that God is God. I love the word “know”. It is imperative, a command, an instruction. We are to focus on Him, not the hopelessness of the world.

And therein lies the secret to hope. It is not hope that we seek. It is God. For in God we see the world, no matter how out of control it is, in a new light. When we see God, we see One who is in complete control.

Hope is a byproduct of seeking God. All who seek hope without God will seek it in vain. For there lies nothing to back up that hope. But when we seek God simply for who he is, we have no choice but to be hopeful! For we see that he can do all things.

If you’re lacking hope this season, can I encourage you with something? Don’t focus on finding hope, or even how hopeless your situation may be. Focus on putting all your attention on God. Spend time meditating on his character. Spend time worshiping him wildly in the secret of your room.

I trust that as you do so, you will inevitably find hope, because God is our hope!

Scripture for Meditation

God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea…

Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

-Psalm 46

Questions for Reflection

Where do you find yourself putting your hope?

What helps you keep your eyes on God? How can you lean in to those practices to re-center yourself on our true hope?