HOPE IN HOPELESS SITUATIONS

“For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I SHALL BE MADE WELL” – Mark 5:28

God is delighted when we demonstrate HOPE IN HOPELESS SITUATIONS: “For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I SHALL BE MADE WELL” (Mk.5:28). Hope is the confident expectation of something good happening. It’s closely linked to faith. The woman with the issue of blood had Hope in her seemingly hopeless situation. She had a haemorrhage, with physical discomfort for twelve years. She suffered in treatment under the primitive practice of medicine; her condition deteriorated; and she faced financial ruin. She also had to deal with social rejection of being “levitically unclean” (Lev.15:25-33). She was caught in a hopeless situation, but this changed when she brought her condition to Jesus and pressed into God’s Presence with a positive expectation.

This biblical account reveals a great deal about Hope, Faith, and the nature of Jesus as the Lord of hopeless situations. Jesus was this woman’s last resort. The moment she brought her problem to Christ, was the beginning of Hope. Then, she came through the crowd and actually touched Him. There is hope in the idea that a problem is about to end, even if it hasn't completely disappeared, once the God of Hope begins to turn the tide in our favour. We are never too damaged or too far gone to come to Jesus for positive change. He is fully aware of our problem and pain. He never forgets us and our situation. Even in a crowd, Jesus knew this woman and her needs. No matter how lonely, Jesus is aware of us and our needs.

Hopelessness happens when someone finds himself or herself in a situation where there is no confident expectation for a positive outcome.  It’s being at the end of one’s rope.  Many things can aggravate hopelessness: job loss, chronic illness, an unhappy or troublesome relationship, marriage on the brink of divorce, the potential of financial ruin, shattered dreams, burnout, a cycle of fear, loneliness or depression, a burden of guilt, a rebellious or prodigal child, or the death of a spouse or child. To be hopeless is to have lost all confidence that things can still work out – all seems bleak and blank! Whatever it is, we must stop trying to fix it by ourselves or faking it by telling everyone that everything is OK when it's not.

In God, no situation is absolutely hopeless. When everything seems to be falling apart, we should remember that Jesus is Lord of Hopeless Situations. In Him we can manifest Hope when all looks hopeless! The devil wants to discourage us and make us feel like things will never get better, there’s no way out, or we’re abandoned and stranded, but he will not prevail because God’s love never fails. The times may look hopeless, but we who believe in Jesus must never be hopeless. If God allowed us to be in a situation, we can be confident that we have a future in Him. His will may not always be the easiest road, but it’s the right road, and if it is His will, there will be a way. God “makes a way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters” (Isa.43:16). He assures us: “I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isa.43:19b).

Beloved, if you’re going through a difficult time right now, know that God loves you, is with you, and desires to help you right where you are: “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psa.34:18). If you’re feeling like there’s nothing good left for the future, know that as what the enemy wants you to believe, but God has something better for you: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psa.34:19). “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer.29:11). God ignites Hope in hopeless situations, to usher His people into blessings and miracles!