Why Does Life Feel So Hopeless?

Maybe you found this because you typed something into Google like:

• Why do I feel so lost?
• How do I get out of this dark place?
• Is there any hope for me?

If that’s the case, I want to tell you something upfront: You are not alone.

A lot of us—more than we’d like to admit—have felt this way. We don’t talk about it, though. We just keep moving, pushing through, acting like it’s all okay while the weight of it presses down harder every day.

Hopelessness isn’t just a modern struggle. It’s something humanity has always wrestled with. Even the Bible captures the depths of despair that people have felt since the dawn of time. 

God Understands Your Suffering

Isaiah 53:3 says:
“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”

This verse is a prophetic verse that was written before Jesus was born, but  is talking about Jesus Himself. He knows what it’s like to suffer. He knows what it’s like to feel rejected, alone, and completely abandoned. Whatever you’re feeling right now, He understands.

When we read about Jesus in the Gospels, we do see Jesus faced with human emotion, including grief, distress, and fatigue. The Bible says that He was tempted in every way that we are, and I’m sure that He felt the feelings that we have felt. He knows. And He CARES.

In Psalm 88:3-4, the writer cries out:
“I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength.”

Have you ever felt that way? Like you’re just barely holding on? Like no matter what you do, the weight of everything is too much?

You’re not the first to feel that. You’re not the only one. Even those closest to God have felt that same crushing darkness. But here’s what you need to know: darkness is not the end of the story.

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What Should I Do If I Feel Hopeless?

You might be asking:

• How do I get out of this feeling?
• What steps can I take to get my life back?

It starts with admitting that you can’t fix it alone. But you don’t have to—because God is right here, and He cares about you.

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1. Ask God for Help

One of the biggest lies we believe when we’re struggling is that God doesn’t care. That He’s distant. That He’s too busy to notice our pain.

But that’s not the truth.

1 Peter 5:7 says:
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

God actually invites us to bring our burdens to Him. He’s not afraid of your pain. He’s not overwhelmed by your emotions. He wants to walk through it with you.

What does this look like?

• Be honest with God. Tell Him what you’re feeling—even if it’s messy.
• Ask Him for strength. Even if you don’t know what to say, just say, “God, help me.”
• Don’t stop reaching out. Prayer doesn’t have to be formal—just talk to Him like you would a friend.

Psalm 34:17-18 reminds us:
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

If you feel hopeless, start here. Ask God for help. He hears you. He cares. And He won’t leave you alone in this.

You don’t have to pray a prescribed prayer, or follow a ritual. Just talk to Him like He’s your Dad. Like He’s in the room. He’s not offended by your emotion, your frustration, even if you’re a bit frustrated with Him. You can tell Him about that, and He can take it. But be willing to know the truth about Him, that He loves you, and wants to bring healing to the parts of you that are hurting.

I think of these lyrics from the song “Talkin’ to Jesus”
There’s no wrong way to do it

There’s no bad time to start
It don’t have to sound pretty
Just tell Him what’s on your heart
‘Cause it’s not a religion
‘Cause it’s more like a friendship
Just talk to your Father
Like you are his kid

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2. Be Careful What You Feed Your Mind

Maybe you’re wondering:

• Why do I feel so much worse after scrolling through social media?
• Does what I watch and listen to actually affect my mood?

The answer is yes.

There’s a phrase in programming: Garbage In, Garbage Out. If you feed a system garbage, it’s going to produce garbage. Your mind works the same way.

It seems like every few years, I got sucked into the political chaos leading up to whichever election is happening. I can find myself reading every article, watching the news, arguing online.

 A few years ago I found myself pretty deep down the rabbit hole. I had really let my mind marinate in division, outrage, and hopelessness.

It wrecked me.

Then, as soon as the election was over, I shut it all off. And you know what happened? I felt peace again.

What are you feeding your mind? If it’s constant negativity, anger, and despair—no wonder you feel hopeless.

Philippians 4:8 reminds us:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

It’s time to replace the noise with truth, hope, and life.

It’s really easy for us to blame a condition, rather than to take responsibility.

I’m not saying that mental health diagnoses aren’t real. (We’ll talk about those things in a moment.) But what I am saying is, we need to make sure that we are thoughtful and careful about what we feed our mind AND our bodies, as they do have a direct impact on how we feel.

Are we eating junk? Are we physically active? Taking a walk? Taking a shower? Getting enough sleep?  Listening to the most depressing or angry music? Scrolling on social media and listening to influencers show us how we don’t measure up? Watching the news while it loops through its cycle of outrage and despair?

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3. Call in the Pros

If you broke your leg, you wouldn’t just tell yourself to “walk it off.” You’d go see a doctor. But when our mental and emotional health is broken, we tell ourselves to just “push through.”

That’s a lie. Sometimes, you need help.

There is no shame in talking to a counselor, seeing a doctor, or even taking medication if that’s what helps you get back on solid ground. Some of the strongest people you know have done the same thing—you just don’t see it because they don’t talk about it.

If you’re in a dark place right now, reach out. There are people who want to help.

📞 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
📞 Mental Health Treatment Referral Hotline: 1-877-726-4727

Even the Bible encourages seeking wise counsel. Proverbs 11:14 says:
“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.”

You don’t have to do this alone.

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How Can I Heal from Past Wounds?

Maybe your hopelessness isn’t just about what’s happening right now. Maybe it’s been years in the making.

I didn’t realize how much my past was affecting me until I faced it head-on. 

I was in kindergarten at the bus stop. Just a few weeks after school started. Two teenage brothers stood behind me. They stole my hat and threw it on top of a soda machine. Then, they pulled out a little box of matches.

Flick.
Hushed laughter.
SSSSST!

They put out the match on my neck. Then they did it again. Not just once, but several times over the next week. I didn’t flinch. I didn’t move. I didn’t scream. I just let it happen. I was scared. I was angry. But I also felt like it was my problem.

I had no idea how much that experience shaped me. There are so many lies that I believed about myself and carried with me throughout my childhood and into my adulthood because of what those other boys did at the bus stop. There are actually many experiences in my early life that compounded on top of each other to really create a whirlwind of lies and wounds that I’m frequently taking to my Heavenly Father for healing so that I can learn and grow.

I know folks who say, “When I gave my life to Jesus, He just took all that away in an instant!”

And I’m in no position to argue with their experience. I just know for me, He certainly forgave my sin, redeemed my soul, and gave me a new life, adopted me into His family, and radically changed me when I submitted my life to Him… but it has taken me years to allow Him into the parts of my mind and heart that I didn’t even know were broken and hurting! Jesus and I are walking out a very long and patient journey of healing my deep hurts, and replacing the lies left in the wake of those hurts with His truth.

What lies are you still believing from your past?

Jesus offers healing. Psalm 147:3 says:
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

He can do that for you, too.

Let God Heal the Broken Places in You

Sometimes, the wounds of our past keep us trapped in hopelessness. We try to move forward, but the pain lingers. The truth is, we can’t fully step into freedom until we invite God into those broken places—to heal, restore, and set us free.

In December 2023, Eric Eliason preached a powerful message at Open Arms Community Church called “Set the Captives Free.” In this sermon, he talks about how God wants to heal our past wounds so we can walk in true freedom.

If you’re struggling with hurt, trauma, or burdens from your past, this message is for you. Take a moment to watch it—and invite God to bring healing where you need it most.

📺 Watch “Set the Captives Free” here:
Watch Now

Can Faith Actually Help with Depression?

Maybe you’re asking:

• Does God even care that I feel like this?
• Can faith actually help me find hope?

When you’re struggling, it’s easy to feel like God is distant—or worse, that He doesn’t care. Maybe you’ve prayed before and nothing seemed to change. Maybe people told you to “just have more faith,” and it didn’t help.

But faith is not about pretending everything is fine. It’s about trusting God in the middle of the mess.

Jesus Understands Your Pain

If you’ve ever felt completely alone in your suffering, I want you to know Jesus understands exactly what that feels like.

He was betrayed by someone He trusted. (Matthew 26:14-16) 

He was abandoned by His closest friends. (Mark 14:50) 

He was falsely accused and treated unfairly. (Mark 14:55-59) 

He cried out in anguish, feeling forsaken. (Matthew 27:46) 

Jesus, the Son of God, went through deep emotional and physical pain. He knows what it’s like to feel crushed, rejected, and in agony. You are not alone in this.

Isaiah 53:4-5 says:
“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering… But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

Jesus took all of our pain, all of our suffering, and all of our brokenness upon Himself. He didn’t just come to teach us how to live—He came to rescue us from the darkness.

God is the Source of Real Hope

Faith doesn’t mean you’ll never struggle. It doesn’t mean every bad feeling instantly disappears. But faith gives you something solid to stand on when everything else feels like it’s falling apart.

Romans 15:13 says:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Real hope isn’t about wishful thinking. It’s about knowing that God is still in control, even when life feels overwhelming.

• Hope says: “This pain is real, but it is not permanent.”
• Hope says: “God has not forgotten me, even when I feel invisible.”
• Hope says: “God can turn this mess into something beautiful.”

What Does This Mean for You?

If you’re in a dark place, here’s what I want you to know:

1️⃣ You don’t have to fix yourself before coming to God. He meets you right where you are.
2️⃣ You can be honest with God. If you’re angry, confused, or struggling—tell Him. He already knows, and He wants to walk with you through it.
3️⃣ You don’t have to do this alone. God designed us for community. Surround yourself with people who will encourage and pray for you.

Psalm 40:1-2 says:
“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”

No matter how deep the pit feels, God is strong enough to pull you out.

Jesus is not afraid of your darkness. He is the light. And He wants to lead you out of it.

Want to Go Deeper? Watch Our Sermon Series on Overcoming Depression

If you’re struggling with depression, despair, or feelings of hopelessness, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to fight this battle alone.

Back in 2014, Pastor Mike McAvoy led a powerful sermon series at Open Arms Community Church called “Defeating the Dragon of Depression and Despair.” In this series, he dives deep into the spiritual, emotional, and practical aspects of overcoming depression, offering biblical wisdom and real hope.

We encourage you to take some time to watch these messages and let God’s truth replace the lies of hopelessness.

📺 Watch the full sermon series here:
Defeating the Dragon of Depression and Despair (YouTube Playlist)

Next Steps: Where Do I Go From Here?

1️⃣ Ask God for help. He hears you and cares for you.
2️⃣ Take inventory of what you’re feeding your mind. Start replacing negativity with hope.
3️⃣ Reach out for help. A friend, a pastor, a counselor—don’t keep this to yourself.

Join Us for Prayer on Monday Night

If you need hope, if you need someone to pray for you, if you just need to be in a place where you’re not alone—join us at Open Arms Community Church for our Monday Night Prayer Meeting. No pressure, no judgment. Just a time to seek peace and healing together.

📍 Monday at 7 PM
💬 Need to talk? Send us a message

And if you take nothing else from this, just remember: This darkness is not the end of your story. Hope is real. And it’s closer than you think.