Hope during Chaos and Confusion

It’s easy to become confused when navigating the circumstances life presents us with each day. Just the everyday responsibilities of family, career, friends, church, and school can cause stress and quickly become overwhelming. Add to these core responsibilities sickness, family disputes, job loss or employment difficulties, problems at church and school, and the added challenges can bring about a sense of confusion and hopelessness.

Frustration and confusion can lead to a conflicted mindset. When we become overwhelmed, it's easy to find ourselves in a situation where it’s almost impossible to know what to do. The hopelessness can be overpowering, and a paralysis of the mind and emotion can set in.

As Christians, we are promised hope during seemingly hopeless situations. Because of God’s grace, we have access to Divine guidance that, if followed, will help us in these circumstances.  It may seem like simplistic solutions to complex problems. Still, hope can only come when we seek guidance from the source that can actually impact or change the circumstances we find overwhelming or confusing.

Paul, in his letter to the Romans, writes, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” We have secure hope in the Sovereign God of the Bible. His qualities and character provide us with the assurance that we need not despair, but we should seek Him and His solutions.

Here are a few suggestions to help you gain hope in seemingly hopeless situations:

First, remember how deeply God loves you. He loves you more than you can imagine; more than your mind can comprehend (Ephesians 3:19; Romans 5:8). From His love, God has made you promises, and you can rest in the fact that God does not lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18).

God is aware of everything his children are experiencing. He loves you and is concerned for you. You may think He is far away, but He is not. In His promises, He reminds us that He knows us intimately, understands our needs, and will provide for them (Matthew 6:31).

Second, trust God with your cares and concerns. We are to trust Him with our problems and not focus on things around us that may be confusing (Proverbs 3:5-6).  Paul writes to the church at Philippi that we should not be anxious about anything, but we should go to him in prayer and with thanksgiving, let Him know our concerns and cares (Philippians 4:6).

Third, rest in God’s character and sovereignty. God wants us to trust Him and acknowledge His love for us. We should be so overwhelmed by this truth that we rest in Him and in faith, know that He is working (Matthew 11:28; Psalm 4:8; Isaiah 26:3). This does not mean that we ignore the responsibilities that we are given each day. We are to use our God-given wisdom and discernment to work through the challenges set before us, while also having faith that God is at work. It means that through faith, as we trust in the love and goodness of God, we release our burdens and anxieties to the Sovereign One who knows all things, controls all things, and has promised that all circumstances, even the difficult ones, will be used to make us more like Jesus (Romans 8:28-29). 

Fourth, seek wisdom in His Word. When you need to make decisions, search the scriptures for guidance. 

The trustworthy source of our hope is God. He has given us wisdom and guidance through His Word. He explains how we can find peace and joy in tumultuous times, and He has promised to be with us as we journey through trials and suffering (Psalm 46:1). We can access that hope when we seek to know Him and glorify Him in our lives, in both the hard times and the good.