January 2022 Tyler J. VanderWeele, Ph.D., Director of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard’s Institute for Quantitative Social Science and Senior Author of this Study

Hopelessness can be a contributor to many behavioral and mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress, and substance dependency. Feelings of hopelessness that occur with a condition such as depression may lead an individual to have suicidal thoughts. Hopelessness may not always occur with a particular condition, but no matter the cause, feelings of hopelessness can be devastating. Not only does the emotion compromise an individual’s sense of well-being and stability, it may also rob a person of the motivation required to seek help. 

People experiencing hopelessness may make statements such as:

• My situation will never get better.
• I have no future.
• No one can help me.
• I feel like giving up.
• It is too late now.
• I have no hope.
• I will never be happy again.

For those who are Christians do not be so naïve to think that “hopelessness” does not deeply affect some Christians, especially the young. The strong power of the evil one in our world is no respecter of persons. Jesus says in John 16:33 (NLT) “’I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.’”

Several weeks ago, one of our pastors at my church preached a sermon on “Destiny: Believing that God is Weaving Everything Together.” In the beginning of that sermon he addressed the critical issue of hope in a Christian’s life. As I listened that morning and processed his words and thoughts, I had the pointed realization of how many people, especially young people, live without much hope that too often leads, devastatingly, to hopelessness.

Much of the time when we say we “hope” for something, we really mean we “wish” for something. And that is a fair expression. We do often hope (wish) for something, but there is a distinct and great difference in our hope in God. The Greek word for hope used in the scriptures below is Elpis. The definition of this Greek word is confident expectation, not a wish.

2 Corinthians 3:12 (NIV) “Therefore, since we have such a hope [confident expectation], we are very bold.”

Hebrews 6:19 (NLT) “This hope [confident expectation] is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.”

Romans 15:4 (NLT) “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope [confident     expectation] and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled”.

The hope in these passages is not a wish. Wishes do not inspire boldness. Wishes are not strong and trustworthy anchors. Wishes do not encourage patience.

What is the hope for the Christian? It is the crucifixion, death, burial, and ultimately the resurrection of Jesus the Christ, God in flesh! Why?

• The appearances of the resurrected Jesus to his disciples provide evidence of his victory over death and reinforce the truth of his teachings.
• The resurrected Jesus conquered death, offering the hope of eternal life to all who believe in him.
• It is essential to salvation and the promise of new life in Christ. The Apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:14 (NLT) “And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.”
• The resurrected Jesus provides believers the hope of their own future resurrection. It brings comfort and reassurance that death is not the end, but a passage into eternal life with God.
• The resurrected Jesus brings spiritual empowerment and transformation to believers’ lives. It signifies that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to all who believe in him. We can experience new life, forgiveness, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
• The resurrected Jesus serves as confirmation of the truthfulness of the Gospel message preached by the early disciples.
• The resurrected Jesus provides hope and encouragement to believers facing trials, challenges, pain, and disillusionment. It demonstrates that God has the power to bring life out of death and can work in the most difficult circumstances. It assures believers that God is present with them, and they can find strength and resolute endurance through him.

In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (NLT) the Apostle Paul powerfully and clearly states:

“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.”

Our hope in God is REAL because the resurrected Jesus was seen!

I want to leave you with this beautiful and powerful description of one who found hope in God through the love, grace, mercy, sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God! Maybe it’s your story, as it is mine.

But me he caught-reached all the way

    from sky to sea; he pulled me out

Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos,

    the void in which I was drowning.

They hit me when I was down.

    but God stuck by me.

He stood me up on a wide-open field;

    I stood there saved-surprised to be loved!

God made my life complete

    when I placed all the pieces before him.

When I got my act together,

    he gave a fresh start.

Now I'm alert to God's ways;

    I don't take God for granted.

Every day I review the ways he works;

    I try not to miss a trick.

I feel put back together,

    and I'm watching my step.

God rewrote the text of my heart

    when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

Psalm 18:16-24 The Message