The Importance of Hope when You’ve Lost Faith

The Importance of Hope when You’ve Lost Faith

Faith is the belief that the desired outcome to a problem or situation will occur. It is most heavily relied upon when what is expected is either improbable or impossible. Hope, on the other hand, is the wish that the desired outcome will occur. Faith relies on the here and now – we have faith that the problem will soon resolve. Hope takes place in the future – we have hope that the problem or situation will change sometime later. Both, particularly when they work in tandem, will lead you to the light at the end of the tunnel.

Which comes first, hope or faith?

Hope follows faith, not the other way around. In fact, you cannot have faith without hope. The two, in this case, go hand-in-hand. But when faith is lost, hope is all you have left. You must rely on it and use it as a coping mechanism.

It is difficult for most people to always have faith. The longer the expected outcome takes to be fulfilled, one’s faith can wax and wane. And it is likely to be lost if the desired ending to a problem or situation is not quickly attained.

What do you do when you lose faith?

Having a continuous, nonwavering faith is a challenge for most people. Some people may never lose their faith in God or in themselves. But holding onto faith when the expected outcome does not occur, either in the way or timeframe expected, maintaining your faith can be difficult.

When faith is lost, it is replaced with hope. Some people think that when faith is lost, you no longer have a relationship with God. This is not the case. You never lose your relationship with God. Unless, of course, you do not desire to have one.

Are hope and faith the same thing?

Hope and faith are similar, but they are not the same thing. Hope follows faith. It is the next thing you rely upon when your faith is lost. When faith doesn’t culminate in the desired outcome, there is the hope that something new and better is coming.

Neither hope nor faith will necessarily result in the desired outcome. That is a given. But both have the same destination – the end of the problem or completion of the journey. Notice that there is no mention here of resolution. Some issues never get resolved. Family disputes often fall into this category.

Here’s another similarity between the two. Faith leads to hope. When you’ve lost faith, hope takes over. Having hope will help renew your faith. And having faith will make your relationship with God stronger.

Hope is just as important as faith. It can give you a renewed energy to face a problem or situation head-on. It gives you a stronger belief in yourself and in God. Faith, hope, and God all work in tandem. And the relationship between them is cyclical.

What happens if you lose hope?

Sometimes you reach that point in life when hope is all you have left to get through a difficult situation. It is important not to lose hope because once hope is gone, it is replaced with despair. You may lose your ability to dream, feel love, and feel connected to God. You may become fearful and anxious, and you may dread the future. You may feel alone and isolated from the rest of the world.

Rest assured, you are not alone. And there are ways to find your way back to having hope.

First, pray. Prayer is good for the soul. It is cathartic, and it helps clear the mind. Think about your past successes. Remember when life was good. Instill hope in others – be an advocate for hope. Go outside and enjoy nature. Try something new. If you don’t find enjoyment in it, try something else. Read stories about people who, against all odds, overcame adversity. Get together with friends and have a good laugh. Set realistic goals and focus on achieving them.  Doing things like this will not help you find hope, they’ll also help you feel less stressed and less isolated from the world.

The future becomes bright when you allow the light in.

Summing it up

Though you may try to not lose your faith in God, yourself, or the impossible, it is human nature to waver in your faith at some point and time in your life. In those times, hold on to hope and don’t let go.  And if, for whatever reason, you find yourself losing hope, choose another hope – the hope that something better is coming. And that when the problem or situation is over, you will emerge a better and stronger person.

When you have both hope and faith, they become a powerful tool.  Use them to help you cope and to feel empowered.  Together with prayer, they will help you get through anything, from your smallest tribulations to your darkest hours.  God is always listening. He is always with you, and He is always the light at the end of the tunnel.

Blessings,
J.C.

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Other articles you may be interested in:

Psychology Today:  Why Hope Matters
Extern:  Why Hope is Important
Self Help for Life:  The Importance of Hope