Hope in Despair

Despair is a sinister enemy that is debilitating in every way. It diminishes our motivation and our sense of value. If you can’t see any purpose in going on—you stop living, and that is a dangerous place to be. In the dark cave of depression, no sunlight arrives. No feelings of hope grow in that dark place.

Isaiah knows we all falter, so we begin to think thoughts that are harmful to our spiritual life. He challenges those thoughts and our pattern of thinking, Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel,

“My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God?” (Isaiah 40:27-31).

When we come to church, we often do not get what we need. Sometimes it’s the preacher’s fault or the worship people because they are unprepared, but other times it's yours because you do not admit your need. We all need help to see our despair. There is the despair about what we can’t fix, our relationship with our parents, or our spouse, or our child. The brokenness we possess cries out at us—you are a lost cause. We hear a voice, “Nobody cares about you, and nobody cares about your problems!” You are worthless to others and even to God. Why is it we say the things we say? Why do we think the way we do? Where does our sense of abandonment originate?

It comes from our disconnection with meaningful people in our lives. Most of all, it comes from our disconnection with God. Isaiah knows what we need is a new vision of who God is, Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom (Isaiah 40:28). Isaiah points to the discrepancy, “Do you not know?” and “Have you not heard? It is as if he is saying, Judging from your actions, you must not know this. It appears that you have never heard this before. From the way you are living your life, you must not know God. Isaiah wants us to look at the eternal God.

Our perspective of life is narrow. We exaggerate our problems and exhaust our energies on things that don’t matter. We panic when things don’t fall into place. From our place in the universe, things look like a disaster, but from God’s eternal perspective, everything is on schedule. How much of your frustration comes from unmet expectations? Our expectations fall far beneath what God wants for us. What brought you such disappointment in the larger scheme of things is so unimportant and petty.

The one question that has been essential for Isaiah has been not what but who. It’s not what events shape history but who shapes history. Is the purpose and meaning of our lives totally up to us, or is God involved in the day-to-day meaning of our lives? Isaiah says, Yes, God is involved! God gives strength to the weary, and he gives power to the weak. Those who are physically weary of life, those who are mentally, emotionally, and spiritually fatigued; those who are on the verge of calling it quits—can find help from God.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:30-31).

Yesterday, my two-year-old grandson was telling me stories like The Three Little Pigs and The Little Red Hen. He could only describe parts of each story, but I knew exactly what he was talking about with his few words. When he finished each story, he would ask, “Did you like it, Grandpa?” I would answer, “I loved it, Neal!” We must tell our stories to God because he will love them. He will listen and encourage us. Isaiah says those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. Put your hope in God, and let Him renew your strength.