When You Feel Helpless & Need Hope – Remember & Follow

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I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately. After mentally and physically busy days, it can be hard to relax my body and quiet my thoughts and rest.

The writer of Psalm 77 penned the following…

You keep my eyes from closing. I am so troubled that I cannot speak.

Psalm 77:4 (NLV)

The Message put it like this…

I’m awake all night—not a wink of sleep; I can’t even say what’s bothering me.

How often I see myself on the pages of Scripture and think . . . ” It helps to know I’m not the only one.”

But it saddens me that the enemy has also been able to attack my thoughts like this…

I think of the good old days, long since ended,
when my nights were filled with joyful songs.
    I search my soul and ponder the difference now.
Has the Lord rejected me forever?
    Will He never again be kind to me?
Is His unfailing love gone forever?
    Have His promises permanently failed?

Psalm 77:5–8

Have you ever been in a painful situation and wondered…

• Has the Lord rejected me?
• Will He ever be kind again?
• Has He withdrawn His love?
• Can I still trust His promises?

The enemy of our souls plants those thoughts and tempts us to play them on a loop again and again and again.

That’s why I love that the Spirit inspired the writer of this Psalm to write…

But then I recall all You have done, O Lord;
    I remember Your wonderful deeds of long ago.
They are constantly in my thoughts.
    I cannot stop thinking about Your mighty works.

Psalm 77:11–12

These are the thoughts we need we need to replay continuously. The “but then” and “but God” thoughts help us remember all God has done in the past. Remembering His past goodness and grace gives us what we need to escape the enemy’s tormenting taunts.

I love the next verses…

When the Red Sea saw You, O God,
    its waters looked and trembled!
Your road led through the sea,
    Your pathway through the mighty waters—
    a pathway no one knew was there!

Psalm 77:16 & 19

God makes paths for us to pass through our painful circumstances even where there are no paths. He always has been, is now, and always will be able to do the impossible to save His children.

The other night, the Lord laid something on my heart as I was thinking about this…

God parted the Red Sea and saved His people when they were trapped by an enemy trying to kill them but He didn’t take them directly to the Promised Land. On the other side of the Red Sea was The Wilderness.

I paused. I’d never thought about that before. What did it mean?

I think the Spirit was reminding me that God gives us ways to be saved from the attacks of the enemy of our souls. But He doesn’t take us straight to the Heavenly Promised Land. This world will always have its challenges and at times it will feel like we are wandering around in the wilderness.

But we can be confident that the Promised Land is in our future. Praise God! When we faithfully follow the Lord like a pillar of cloud through the day and a pillar of fire at night (Exodus 13:21), He leads us safely through those challenging wilderness times and places . . . toward our forever home in His presence.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

Ephesians 1:3

So, when you feel helpless and need hope, remember all that God has done for you in the past and follow Him with hope into the beautiful future.

Let’s pray…

A Prayer to Remember and Follow

Father, I’m so tired. I feel anxious and I don’t know what to do. Circumstances are hard but the enemy’s constant attacks on my heart and mind are the hardest part. He constantly shouts “Did God really promise? It’s hopeless. You’re going to feel like this forever.”

But Your Word tells me that You are faithful to keep Your promises. (Hebrews 10:23) That You won’t let me be tempted beyond my ability . . . that You will give me a way of escape. (1 Corinthians 10:13) And that You are full of unfailing love and faithfulness. (John 1:14)

And I pause to remember all the times You have provided for me in the past. First and most important, You sent Jesus to suffer the punishment I deserved. You saved me and made me Your child.

You have also turned things around when they appeared hopeless. And even when You didn’t change the circumstances and my heart was broken, You showed me a path to healing. You put the pieces back together and filled me with peace, hope, and even joy.

So, I will trust You yet again. I give myself to You. Please give me everything I need to follow Your path every day now and forever. In the name of Your Son and my Savior, Jesus. Amen.

The enemy of our souls will always try to push feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. He wants us to feel trapped in our circumstances. He wants us to doubt God’s ability and love.

But he’s a liar. Jesus called him the “father of lies.” (John 8:44)

When he presses in with his lies, may we run to Jesus . . . the Way, Truth, and Life.

May God bless you and help you remember all He has done and follow Jesus along the path everylasting.

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