WHAT DO I DO WHEN HOPE IS LOST

What do I do when hope is lost?

I’ve seen so many prayer requests recently, and one in particular stood out: “I’ve just lost hope. I have no forward strategy. Everything is gone.” This sense of despair isn’t rare—it’s coming from every corner of the world. But I have a word for you this evening: God is not finished.

I truly believe we are on the brink of the greatest spiritual awakening in history. Scripture supports this belief. There was an outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, and there will be another in the last days. As global calamity increases, whosoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. I believe we will be stunned by the numbers turning to Christ - many of whom we’d never expect.

A Promise from Ezekiel

In Ezekiel 37:11–14, God tells the prophet:

“Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off.’

Therefore, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up… I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live.’”

This message is not just for ancient Israel but it’s for you and me. Maybe you feel dry, hopeless, and cut off from God. You may have cried out and heard no answer. Maybe you’ve played with sin and now believe you’ve lost His favor.

But God’s mercy repeats itself through history. His power is unchanging. He shows up in ways we least expect, and He is doing it again.

The Struggle of the Psalmist

In Psalm 77:7–9, the writer asks:

“Will the Lord cast off forever? Has His mercy ceased? Has His promise failed? Has He forgotten to be gracious?”

We’ve all asked those questions. We feel dead to the promises of God, convinced He’s done with us. But in verses 10–15, the psalmist chooses to remember God’s past faithfulness:

“I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High… You are the God who does wonders.”

An Invitation from Jesus

Just like Lazarus, many of us feel like God didn’t come when we needed Him most. We called and waited—but silence answered. What we don’t realize is that Jesus always comes at the right time.

Your hopeless situation is not unto death. It is for the glory of God.

“Take away the stone,” Jesus said at Lazarus’ tomb (John 11:39).

Remove the stone of unbelief. Push away the lies that say nothing will ever change, that you’re too far gone, too weak, too hopeless.

And move toward the sound of His voice. You don’t need strength of your own. Just respond. Rise in the strength God gives. He is calling you out of darkness and into life, out of sin and into forgiveness.

Let Him Unwrap You

Jesus called, “Lazarus, come forth.” And Lazarus came still wrapped in burial clothes. Then Jesus said, “Loose him and let him go.”

This is what Jesus does: He unwraps the death from around your mind, your heart, your identity. He gives you:

• New sight – to see as you’ve never seen before

• New words – a testimony and praise in your mouth

• A new heart – filled with love, forgiveness, and truth

• A new walk – a transformed life and purpose