How to Remain Hopeful When All Hope Seems Lost
Shared on November 6, 2024
The last thing that we should ever do is give up and lose hope, even in situations that seem hopeless. Join Pastor McCrary and watch this week’s study as Joseph now finds himself in a situation that would seem hopeless. Joseph will succeed in this situation so what can we learn from him to succeed in hopeless situation?
Introduction
A few weeks ago, my brother asked me what keeps me going. It was a question that I initially answered – “I just do”. Then we spoke another 30 to 40 minutes, and had spoken about doubt, faith, and trusting in the Lord.
Something that many of us struggle with is finding the motivation to keep pushing forward, especially when things aren’t going well. You will recall in our study last week that Joseph was sold away by his brothers – things weren’t going his way. So in our study this week the focus will be on pushing forward when things aren’t going your way.
In Potiphar’s House
After his brothers sold him to a group of Ishamelites and Midianites, they sold Joseph to be a slave to a man named Potiphar (Gen. 37:26-28, 36). Potiphar was an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard (Gen. 39:1). So, Joseph went from dwelling in his dad’s house to being a slave in the home of Potiphar.
How do you suppose Joseph felt after being sold away by his brothers? Scripture doesn’t hint at Joseph’s mindset in these moments. So, let’s put ourselves in Joseph’s shoes and speculate based on what our emotions may have been if it was us.
We have already said that Joseph was betrayed so, we would feel betrayed. Along with feeling betrayed I would be wondering why those closest to me betrayed me? So, I’d feel lost and confused. In my confusion, I would wonder if I did something wrong. So, I’d feel some guilt and maybe even some self-pity would creep into my mind.
Lets not forget that Joseph was no longer with his family, friends, and people he knew. In fact, Joseph wasn’t even in his own land anymore. So, if I were in his shoes, I’d start to feel a bit homesick and lonely – such feelings that could lead me to the feelings of despair and depression. There’s not much hope that we’re speculating in these feelings, are there?
So, Potiphar’s house is a really good study for us because Joseph was in a terrible place. For some of us, when things aren’t going our way, we are quick to blame God. Some of us will even turn from Him in times as dire as what Joseph was facing in Potiphar’s house. So, we need to take a look at how Joseph lived in a place where he could have felt that all hope was lost.
God is Always With You
The first thing scripture tells us is that God was with Joseph (Gen. 39:2). So, if Joseph felt like all hope was lost, the Lord was with Him. If Joseph felt alone, God was with Him. If you ever find yourself in a “Potiphar’s house” position, we should know that we aren’t alone and that God is with us
This thought may lead to some of us asking this question: how can I tell that God is with me? This is a really good question to be asked. What’s the answer?
How to know God is with you
I have to give an answer from my own personal experience. For me, it boils down to me believing and trusting that the Lord is with me. Do you trust that God is with you?
Throughout scripture, the sovereignty of the Lord is spoken of by Him, the prophets, and all who recognized His sovereignty. For example, Paul wrote, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible … And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist (Col. 1:16-17).”
To Job, the Lord asked, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth (Job 38:4)?” God asked Job about His creation, “Who determined its measurements? Or who stretched the line upon it (Job 38:5)?” Of the heavenly bodies, God asked Job, “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loose the belt of Orion (Job 38:31)? Can you bring out Maazaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs (Job 38:32)?”
So, God tells us Himself that He is Almighty – He is the sovereign one! God reigns over all things— He is all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere at all times. God is available and around all of us. However, to we who are of sincere faith, Jesus tells us that He have a more personal relationship with the Lord through the Holy Spirit.
It is recorded in John 14:26-27, that Jesus taught, “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Paul asked the Corinthians, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own (1 Cor. 6:19)?” The role of the Holy Spirit is to guide us into all truth (John 16:13). Know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error fills us up with great confidence and great joy (1 John 3:24; 4:6).
So, how do I know that God is with me, even in times of trouble? I am filled with the confidence I shouldn’t have to know that I am going to make it through in such times. It is the Holy Spirit tha fills me with such confidence in those times.
Now, it has taken me a long time to reach such a place of faith. In fact, I had to go through my great affliction to reach this place of faith. You too, may go through trials, tribulations, and afflictions, but as James said, count it all joy and let your faith have its perfect work (Jas. 1:2-4). When you begin to have peace of mind through the storms of life, that is how you truly know that God is with you.
Success Through Fellowship
The next thing we’re told in Genesis 39:2 is that Joseph was a successful man. Why was it that he was a successful man? Was it because God was with him? Absolutely. However, I want to point out something that we might also overlook in this verse.
Are you with God?
While the Holy Spirit only abides with those who are of sincere faith, I want to remind you that God is available to everybody. We know this because God loved the world and gave the world His only begotten Son (John 3:16). Jesus invited all to come to Him and that He would give to them rest (peace) from their labor (Matt. 11:28).
When we read that the Lord was with Joseph, let’s understand that Joseph was also with Him. Joseph, while in the house of Potiphar, enjoyed success because of his fellowship with God. Success is enjoyed by all of those who dwell in fellowship with the Lord. Jesus taught, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7).”
So, have you chosen to be in fellowship with the Lord? That is to ask whether or not you have chosen to have a personal relationship with God?
Fellowship with the Lord is a thought that many people just don’t seem to understand. Some question why they have to be in a relationship with God. Others ask, “why do I have to pray if God knows what I am going through?” Some enter into fellowship with the Lord thinking that they will have no trials, tribulations, nor afflictions.
As recorded in John 16:33, you will have tribulation in this world. The fact that we are going to have tribulation is reason why we should desire to be in fellowship with the Lord. You can try to overcome all of your afflictions without the Lord but you will not prevail. As Paul said, this battle is a spiritual battle, not one where we are wrestling against flesh and blood (Eph. 6:12).
If we take a look back at our speculation of what Joseph was going through, we will see that the battle was of the spirit – the mindset. To enjoy success in Potiphar’s house, Joseph had to approach with the right mindset. If the Lord is not shielding your mind – your heart/soul – it can quickly become a playground for the devil and they will feed. So, yes, we certainly need to be in fellowship with the Lord and being in fellowship with Him brings comfort and strength.
How to Move Forward When All Hope Seems Lost
I believe Genesis 39:3-6 perfectly encapsulates fellowship. Joseph was merely a slave in Potiphar’s house yet, he never stopped walking with God. Even Potiphar recognized how successful Joseph was and he made him overseer of his house and all he had. This one move saw Potiphar’s house and all he had to prosper because of Joseph’s fellowship with God.
I do believe Potiphar was a successful man before Joseph was in his house. However, I believe his success came with great stress. Yet, with Joseph over everything, all of Potiphar’s worries went away! We are told that Potiphar lost track of all he had aside from what he ate – he was experiencing greater success because of Joseph’s walk with God.
Joseph being in Potiphar’s house shows us that no matter the predicament, we can find success and be blessed. What must we do to find success when all hope seems lost?
Remember God is with you
Let’s start off by remembering that God is with us. As easy as it is to say this, I honestly believe that this is one of the most difficult things for believers to remember. That being said, keep leaning on the Lord and trusting in Him.
In Isaiah 41:10, the Lord tells us not to fear because He is with us. The Lord said, “Be not dismayed, for I am your God.” God promises to strengthen, to help, and to uphold us with His righteous right hand.
If you begin to think that the Lord is not with you. I want you to also remember that God goes before you and will never leave nor forsake you (Deut. 31:6, 8). We who are of sincere faith have also received the Holy Spirit who shall be with us forever (John 14:15-18). The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, leads and guides us into all truth (John 16:13).
Know that God will deliver you
Because God is with you at all times, don’t you ever hang your head in defeat. As Paul said, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to a man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13).”
We must know that God is not going to ever allow us to be defeated and destroyed. I am reminded of how Satan failed when he tempted Jesus. Jesus said to Satan that man shall not live by bread alone (Matt. 4:4). Then when Satan told Jesus to jump from a very high point, Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God (Matt. 4:7).’ “
Jesus didn’t have to throw Himself down from a pinnacle to know what His Father would do for Him. Guess what, we must get to that place of faith in our heart as well. We must truly know that no matter how difficult life gets, we won’t be destroyed because God is our keeper.
Yes, there are times where we can feel hard pressed on every side. However, as Paul said, there is no problem that God cannot solve. There are no afflictions that God cannot heal. We are often tempted to doubt the Lord but never give in to such doubt. Trust that the Lord will do a new thing and make a road in the wilderness for you (Is. 43:18-19).
Be more disciplined in your faith
The final key to Joseph’s success in Potiphar’s house was his discipline of faith. When all hope seems lost, that is the moment where we must truly dig in and be disciplined in our faith.
To be disciplined in anything, it requires for you to make the choice. When I think about building up discipline, my mind first goes back to my school days playing in the band. When I played trumpet, euphonium, and baritone, in order for me to be good, I had to practice regularly. Yes, this included after school band practices but it also required me to practice at home in my own time.
Some of us don’t believe in regularly practicing our faith in such a manner. What do I mean by this? Well, for some of us, we only practice faith every Sunday morning when we go to church. After Sunday service, we don’t pray, talk to the Lord, study God’s word, nor live by His word until the next Sunday service. Does that sound right? Absolutely not.
So, we must be more diligent in our faith. This means that we must make the choice to diligently live by God’s word. This means that we must make the effort to talk to God on a regular basis. In all of our trials and tribulations, again, we must diligently make the choice to lean on God rather than lean on something else.
God’s thoughts towards us are not evil, they are of peace, a future and hope (Jer. 29:11). Why should we lean on anyone else when God continually promises and does make a way for us? Build up your discipline in God being your hope! When you do these things, rather than being filled with worry in Potiphar’s house, you will be filled with hope.