When Believing Is Hard: Finding Hope in Difficult Times

Life has a way of testing our faith. Whether it's watching a loved one suffer in the hospital, facing months of personal struggle, or dealing with situations that seem to drag on forever, we all encounter moments when believing becomes difficult. During these times, it's easy for faith to slip away and for us to consider giving up entirely.

What Is Hope and Why Do We Need It?

Hope is more than just wishful thinking—it's fuel for the future. It's a feeling of expectation and desire for certain things to happen. Hope drives medical breakthroughs, technological advances, and personal transformation. One of life's greatest challenges is never losing hope, especially when our desires seem like they'll never come to pass.

Just like watching a movie where the hero faces impossible odds, we find ourselves rooting for a positive outcome even when circumstances look bleak. The difference is that in our real lives, we don't have the luxury of knowing the ending ahead of time.

Learning from Abraham's Example

The story of Abraham provides a powerful example of hope against all odds. Romans 4:17-21 tells us about a man who believed God's promise despite impossible circumstances:

The Promise That Seemed Impossible

Abraham was called "the father of many nations" before he had even one child. At 100 years old with a body "as good as dead," and with Sarah's barren womb at 90 years old, the promise seemed humanly impossible. Yet Abraham held onto God's word for decades.

"'As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations in the presence of the God in whom he believed who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope that he should become the father of many nations.'" - Romans 4:17-18

How Abraham Maintained Hope

Abraham didn't focus on his limitations or circumstances. Instead, he "plunged into the promise" and immersed himself in what God had told him. He didn't tiptoe around God's promise with skeptical questions—he embraced it fully, growing stronger in faith rather than weaker.

Four Ways to Hope When Believing Is Hard

1. Hope Is a Choice - Believe God Anyway

When life becomes difficult, hope requires rising up despite pain, adversity, and improbability. Abraham made a conscious decision to believe God regardless of what he saw with his eyes. He chose to live based on what God said rather than what circumstances suggested.

This is the same faith we exercise when we believe in Jesus Christ—someone who died but was raised from the dead. We believe in the impossible because "'with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible'" - Matthew 19:26.

Do you believe God is bigger than your circumstances? Do you still trust His promises, like Jeremiah 29:11 that says He has good plans for your future? When it's hard to believe, make the decision: "I'm going to believe God anyway."

2. Hope Expects God to Answer

"'For in you, O Lord, do I hope; you will answer, O Lord my God'" - Psalm 38:15. This kind of expectant hope develops through personal relationship with God, primarily through His Word and prayer.

We need to ask ourselves: Do I have the kind of relationship with God where I can ask Him questions and expect answers? Sometimes our faith wavers, causing us to pull back or avoid being vulnerable with God about what's truly on our hearts.

The concept of expecting someone to answer means you believe they're paying attention and care enough to respond. God may say yes, no, or wait—but He always cares and will move when the time is right.

3. Hope Is Louder Than the Crowd

In Matthew 20, two blind men encountered Jesus while a crowd tried to silence them. Instead of giving up, they got even louder until they captured Jesus' attention and received their healing. If they had listened to the crowd, nothing would have happened.

Our "crowd" is usually our own doubts, pain, and thoughts of unbelief trying to silence our faith. Doubt makes us wonder if God really cares. Pain makes us question His love. Unbelief whispers that He's not listening.

In these moments, we must fight for our faith and be louder than the crowds of doubt and pain. We need to pray specific prayers, unafraid to ask for what we want. Just as children aren't afraid to ask their parents for things, we shouldn't fear bringing our requests to God.

4. Hope Never Stops Believing

The woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5 had been bleeding for 12 years. Weakened, broke, and in pain, she still chose to push through the crowd to touch Jesus. Her pain could have driven her away from God, but instead it drove her toward Him.

When pain clouds our judgment, we must choose to move closer to God rather than away from Him. As 2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "'we walk by faith, not by sight.'" The Easy-to-Read Version puts it beautifully: "We live by what we believe will happen, not by what we can see."

This verse emanates hope and gives us courage to keep believing when we want to quit. No matter how hard things get, we choose to fight for hope—even if it means taking it one day at a time.

Life Application

This week, identify one area where your faith is being tested. Instead of allowing circumstances to dictate your hope, make a conscious choice to believe God anyway. Spend time in His Word, finding scriptures that remind you of His character and promises. When doubts arise, get "louder" in your prayers—be specific about what you're asking for and expect God to answer in His perfect timing.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Am I living based on what I can see or what God has promised?

• Do I truly believe God is paying attention to my situation and cares enough to respond?

• What "crowd" of doubt or pain am I allowing to silence my faith?

• How can I choose hope today, even if it's just for the next 24 hours?

  
  

Remember, "'Fight the good fight of faith'" (1 Timothy 6:12) and "'Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up'" (Galatians 6:9). Your breakthrough may be just around the corner—don't give up now.