A Hope Worth Holding Onto

Introduction

Today Part 3 – A Hope Worth Holding On To

  • Hope is an indispensible part of life – catalyst for progress, perseverance etc.
  • Hopelessness is on the rise – evidenced by suicide, depression, extreme living
  • Not all Hope is worth holding on to – False hope, Vain hope
  • There is a hope worth holding onto – Living / Biblical / Christian hope
  • 4 Key aspects of Christian Hope
    • Transformation
    • Christ’s Return
    • Resurrection
    • Relational Fulfilment (to mention just a few elements)

Today I want to look at practical things that we can do in order to live with a greater level of hope.

This is vitally important not just for our own sakes, but for the sake of those who we are doing life with.

If there is no difference between my outlook and demeanour when compared to my neighbour, why would they perceive that Jesus has anything to offer them when the need arises?

3 Causes of Hopelessness

1. Disconnection from God

While financial, relational, societal problems can cause despair, disappointment, frustration etc. they are not the ultimate source of hopelessness. The ultimate factor behind hopelessness is separation from God. Without God without hope (Eph 2:12 Thes 4:13)

If we are here by God’s plan and purpose then life has meaning. If we are here by accident – all that we fill our lives with is ultimately meaningless including hope (Ecclesiastes is about this)

The sweetness of life’s pleasures is soured by the sense that we are speeding towards oblivion.

If a plane is going to crash, the people in first class are not likely to be able to enjoy their environment any more than the people in cattle class.

2. Disappointment

Comes from

  • placing hope in the wrong things
  • having unrealistic expectations.

When Abraham hoped against all hope (Rom 4:18) – it was not a baseless hope it was on the foundation of an encounter with the living God.

Many people’s hopes / expectation are baseless / unrealistic

e.g. When we get married I’ll never feel lonely again. We’ll never argue etc.

3. Defective view of reality

In 1965, Martin Seligman, while a graduate student in the department of experimental psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, performed the first experiment showing that animals can be taught helplessness (and by extension hopelessness). One group of dogs was given escapable shock. By pushing a panel with its nose, a dog in that group could turn off the shock. The dog had control because it could escape the shock. A second group of dogs was given exactly the same shocks as the first, but no response they made had any effect. They had no control; they couldn't escape. A third group was given no shocks at all.

Once the dogs went through the experiment, each was put in a large box with two compartments, separated by a low wall. In the first compartment they received a shock, but they could easily escape the shock by jumping over the barrier into the other side of the box.

Within seconds the dogs that had been taught to control shocks discovered that they could jump over the barrier and escape. The dogs that earlier had received no shocks discovered the same thing, also in a matter of seconds. But the dogs who had found that nothing they did mattered made no effort to escape, even though they could easily see over the low barrier to the shock-less zone of the box.

Those dogs just gave up and lay down, even thought they were being regularly shocked by the box. They never found that they could easily escape. Those dogs had learned that they had no control, that they were helpless.

In the same way some of our responses in life have been shaped by consistently negative experiences. If some / all of our life we may assume a position of helplessness / hopelessness. Even when all the signs are positive we may be expecting the worst and so live with a sense of foreboding. (e.g. relationships)

They adopt the attitude that what happens to them is out of their control.

e.g. Exams – The exam is too hard, I’m no good at exams

Relationships – relationships are too hard, I’m unlovable etc.

This “hopeless” mindset leads to diminished motivation – i.e. why try, I’ll fail anyway?

Often expressed in words / attitudes like:

  • I can’t change anything
  • Extreme negativity – everything, always, never
  • It’s my fault, I’m no good, I’m being punished

Note: Anti-social behaviour – how we respond to a person who is being anti-social can reinforce their negative view of people, or give them something to consider which can act as a platform for hope.

Over the past 2 weeks I highlighted the need for an “ultimate hope” But having “ultimate hope” – is no excuse for “hopelessness in the present” if we’re honest many “Christians” seem to struggle to marry the “here & now” with the “then & there” and so live lives that neither inspire nor exhibit much hope.

The fact is that we are living in this world & it’s right that we have hopes and dreams for the here & now (both short & longer term). Today:

Growing hope which is seen & noticed by others.

1. Connect With God

The biggest enemy of Hope is separation from God, so it follows that the first step in the restoration of hope is connection with God (applies to Christian and non-Christian)

The 2 main ways of connecting with God are through the Bible and prayer.

As we read the Bible we discover more about who God is, how He operates and what He wants.

WE’ll discover that the very things that in our ignorance were hope killers become affirmations to our faith and hope builders. (e.g. the problems of suffering & evil)

  • Faith (and hope) comes be hearing the word of God ... (Rom 10:17, Heb 4:12, Is 55:8-11)
  • You will become more aware of God in your daily life and you will change. (both inspire hope)

As we pray we draw a link // our circumstances & God and will begin to realise that God really does hear & answer our prayers. Not always how we want, but certainly as a loving Father. E.g. delay is not denial

  • Don’t worry / whinge about it – pray about it!

While you may not be in control you’re on the side of the one who is!

2. Change Your Perspective

Many people are not confined by their realities but their perceptions of reality

  • Remember the dogs

Often we are so focussed in on the problem that we fail to see / understand anything beyond it

  • Standing up close to a brick wall it can seem impenetrable. If you step back you may discover that there is a door a couple of metres along or that the wall in fact is only 4m long in total and easy to walk around.

Every circumstance in life needs to be seen in the light of Who God IS and What God Has SAID!

  • See yourself the way God sees you - understand that God has a vested interest in your life.
  • Count your blessings & give thanks for them
  • Look back & remember (Psalm 77 Red Sea, 1 Cor 15 resurrection)

3. Speak Positively

Over time the way we speak about our life can become increasingly negative (which Satan loves). If it’s true that we’ll eat the fruit of what we say what will be eating? (Prov 12:14, 13:2). I’m not speaking about hyper faith confessions, but I am talking about speaking positively into situations.

E.g. In sickness, financial ruin, separation

  • God loves me and even though I don’t know how this will turn out I know it will work out for good, I’ll be better off etc.
  • I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

A few questions to ask yourself when complaining/thinking that things look hopeless

  • Who am I talking to? How am I talking?
    • Am I lifting myself up or pulling myself down? Watch words like cant, always, never etc.

4. Respond Purposefully To Life's Challenges

This is about overcoming the mindset, which puts everything beyond our control (dog experiment).

EeYore example- Read

If hopelessness can be learned it can be unlearned. It’s about recognising what we can do about our hopes and doing them. While God is all powerful and could change us and all of our circumstances in an instant, He’s committed to our personal growth and development- He wants to work with & through us.

E.g. Exams A purposeful response - If I study hard and ask the right questions I can pass my exams.

Faith without action is dead (James) – so is hope

Identify where you lack hope – be specific

  • Your marriage - which part?
  • Your health - what areas?
  • Your Finances - in what way?

Brainstorm – Ask what can I do in this situation? What is within my control? (If it’s not within your control, it’s God’s problem)

BBe creative with problem solving – write down at least 10 ideas to try

5. Never Give Up

  • Remember hopelessness is a feeling! Negative feelings are a warning that something needs to change.
  • Remember feelings are subject to our will. We may not be able to control what we feel, but we can control how we act.
  • Often If we would just do what we would tell someone else to do if they were in our situation we’d overcome.
    • E.g. Don’t make a major decision when tired, angry etc. Can you make it through another 24 hours – then do so (24 hours of grace).
    • Isaiah 40:31 Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength

As the famous theologian Barbie said “It’s only hopeless if you give up” (The magical Pegasus)

Examples - Steven Bradbury - Skater, Californian Gold miner story e.g. Study, Marriage, Faith

Conclusion

Hope is an indispensible part of life but Hope deferred makes the heart sick (Prov 13:12) e.g. depression

  • Our hopes need to have a good foundation and be realistic within that context
  • Our hopes should be as varied as life, taking in the near and distant future
  • There are things that we can do to get and grow hope in our lives
    • Connect with GOD
    • Change Your perspective
    • Speak Positively
    • Act Purposefully
    • Never Give up

Read Paul’s testimony from jail in Phil 1:12-26 – Not a teaching about hope, but a powerful demonstration of hope in action. May we go and likewise.