If you are feeling the weight of hopelessness and need to be lifted up, turn to the Bible! God’s Word will rejuvenate your spirit. We hope this Bible study for hopelessness will help you along.
In this article, we’ll give suggestions about a few Bible studies to help overcome feelings of hopelessness. By reading the encouraging words of Jesus and relating to figures in the Bible who struggled with hopelessness, we hope it can help!
How Can studing the stories of Jesus in the bible Help Me Overcome Hopelessness?
Jesus lived His earthly life during a time when the Jewish people were oppressed by Roman rule. It was easy to despair under the harsh thumb of Caesar. For those who recognized Christ for who He was (e.g. the apostles, Mary and Martha, Mary Magdalene), Jesus brought hope into their lives.
Read passages about the eye opening experiences of Jesus’ intimate friends to inspire the hope of Jesus in your life. Two of these stories are the miraculous catch of the fish in Luke 5 or the raising of Lazarus from the dead in John 11.
Jesus also touched countless people who had physically suffered for years and had lost hope of every achieving a normal life. Recount the story of the woman suffering from hemorrhages (Luke 8), the man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5), or the healing of the paralytic at Capernaum (Matthew 9).
Let these stories remind you that Jesus can help you. He can overcome hopelessness and bring you out of the darkness back into the light.
Study about Figures in the Bible who Suffered from Hopelessness
Hopelessness is not a new plague; many prominent and God-fearing figures in the Bible struggled with hopelessness. Some of these included Abraham, Moses, David, Jeremiah, and even Jesus Himself!
Read the following Bible passages and reflect on how each of these men despaired over circumstances in their lives at first. But they ultimately overcame their hopelessness through their faith and trust in God.
- Abraham: Resigned to a lack of heirs through his wife, Abraham’s hope was restored when Sarah became pregnant in her old age (Genesis 21).
- Moses: After showing them the mighty power of God and freeing them from bondage in Egypt, the Israelites still turned away from God. This caused Moses much grief and heartache. Yet, he persisted in pleading with God for their salvation because he knew God was good and just (Exodus 32).
- David: David lost two of his sons and also battled depression despite all that God had done to lift him up. Even in his weakness, he still turned back to God with the hope of being forgiven (2 Samuel 12).
- Jeremiah: Jeremiah was a great prophet was often rejected by his people. He was also called to a life of celibacy which left him lonely. Despite his hardships and pain, he still hoped and trusted in God’s plan for him (Jeremiah 20).
- Jesus: Even the Son of God experienced hopelessness in the Garden of Gethsemane in the hours before His Passion. He did not want to suffer as He knew He must, but ultimately put His trust in God’s plan (Luke 22).
Conclusion
If you are feeling hopeless, don’t despair. Let God speak to you through these Bible verses to bring you back into the light of hope.