Un-learning Hopelessness
Christmas is supposed to be a season of joy, but for many, it’s marked by despair. Statistics show that this time of year sees spikes in depression, suicides, breakups, and feelings of loneliness. If you’ve ever felt hopeless, you’re not alone.
Proverbs 13:12 captures this sentiment: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life."
Meaning, when hope feels out of reach, it’s like a sickness of the heart. Perhaps you’ve prayed for something—a breakthrough, healing, or restoration—and felt like your prayers were delayed, brushed aside, or unanswered.
This feeling reminds me of the psychological experiment on what we now define as “learned hopelessness” by Martin Seligman in the 1960s. Dogs subjected to inescapable shocks eventually stopped trying to escape, even when escape became possible. They had learned to be hopeless.
Sometimes, we do the same. We’ve learned to be hopeless from our negative circumstances. Whether it’s failed relationships, unanswered prayers, or ongoing struggles, we stop trying, stop believing, and accept our circumstances as unchangeable…. Even when God word promises breakthrough.
Hope is so crucial.
Three Truths to help you un-learn hopelessness.
1. Hope Has a Name
The angel told Mary in Matthew 1:21: "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
The name "Jesus" means “the Lord saves,” and throughout Scripture, Jesus is described as our hope:
Our hope isn’t in what God does; it’s in who He is. And His name—Jesus—carries the power to save, heal, and restore.
2. Hope Has Perfect Timing
Have you ever wondered why Jesus was born when He was? During the 400 years of “apparent” silence before Jesus arrival, God was working behind the scenes, preparing the world:
All these created the perfect moment for the Savior to be born and for the news of His birth to spread across the world. It was the perfect moment for the SAVIOR OF THE WORLD to arrive in His world. Even when it feels like God is silent, we have to know that He’s still working.
When the time was perfect, God sent His Son (Galatians 4:4).
So if you’re waiting on God right now, remember this: When it’s not God’s time, you can’t force it. When it is God’s time, nothing can stop it.
3. Hope Is Coming Again
Christmas isn’t just about celebrating Jesus’ birth; it’s about anticipating His return. Jesus promised He would come back—not as a baby in a manger, but as a King on a horse.
Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven... and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
This truth gives us a heavenly perspective. No matter what we face in this life, the ultimate outcome is victory. Hope reminds us to focus on what’s ahead—Jesus, His promises, and His return.
Hope Can Turn Your Life Around
The second half of Proverbs 13:12 says: "A sudden good break can turn life around."
That’s the power of hope in Jesus. When we place our trust in Him, He can take the most hopeless situations and turn them around.
This Christmas, let’s embrace the truth that:
No matter how hopeless things may seem, Jesus is our living hope. If we know that then we can experience the life-changing power hope in His name give us.
What are you hoping for this Christmas? Let’s pray together and believe that God will meet us in our place of need with His perfect hope.
Proverbs 13:12 captures this sentiment: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life."
Meaning, when hope feels out of reach, it’s like a sickness of the heart. Perhaps you’ve prayed for something—a breakthrough, healing, or restoration—and felt like your prayers were delayed, brushed aside, or unanswered.
This feeling reminds me of the psychological experiment on what we now define as “learned hopelessness” by Martin Seligman in the 1960s. Dogs subjected to inescapable shocks eventually stopped trying to escape, even when escape became possible. They had learned to be hopeless.
Sometimes, we do the same. We’ve learned to be hopeless from our negative circumstances. Whether it’s failed relationships, unanswered prayers, or ongoing struggles, we stop trying, stop believing, and accept our circumstances as unchangeable…. Even when God word promises breakthrough.
Hope is so crucial.
Three Truths to help you un-learn hopelessness.
1. Hope Has a Name
The angel told Mary in Matthew 1:21: "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
The name "Jesus" means “the Lord saves,” and throughout Scripture, Jesus is described as our hope:
- Jesus is “our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1).
- Jesus is our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13).
- ]Jesus is our “living hope” (1 Peter 1:3).
Our hope isn’t in what God does; it’s in who He is. And His name—Jesus—carries the power to save, heal, and restore.
2. Hope Has Perfect Timing
Have you ever wondered why Jesus was born when He was? During the 400 years of “apparent” silence before Jesus arrival, God was working behind the scenes, preparing the world:
- Greek became the common language, allowing Scripture to be understood widely.
- Roman roads connected distant regions, enabling the spread of the Gospel.
- People were asking questions and seeking truth like never before.
All these created the perfect moment for the Savior to be born and for the news of His birth to spread across the world. It was the perfect moment for the SAVIOR OF THE WORLD to arrive in His world. Even when it feels like God is silent, we have to know that He’s still working.
When the time was perfect, God sent His Son (Galatians 4:4).
So if you’re waiting on God right now, remember this: When it’s not God’s time, you can’t force it. When it is God’s time, nothing can stop it.
3. Hope Is Coming Again
Christmas isn’t just about celebrating Jesus’ birth; it’s about anticipating His return. Jesus promised He would come back—not as a baby in a manger, but as a King on a horse.
Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven... and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
This truth gives us a heavenly perspective. No matter what we face in this life, the ultimate outcome is victory. Hope reminds us to focus on what’s ahead—Jesus, His promises, and His return.
Hope Can Turn Your Life Around
The second half of Proverbs 13:12 says: "A sudden good break can turn life around."
That’s the power of hope in Jesus. When we place our trust in Him, He can take the most hopeless situations and turn them around.
This Christmas, let’s embrace the truth that:
- Hope has a name—Jesus.
- Hope has perfect timing—trust God’s plan.
- Hope is coming again—keep your eyes on eternity.
No matter how hopeless things may seem, Jesus is our living hope. If we know that then we can experience the life-changing power hope in His name give us.
What are you hoping for this Christmas? Let’s pray together and believe that God will meet us in our place of need with His perfect hope.
Posted in Sermon Blog
