When was the last time you felt hopeless? Today? Last week? A few months ago? Did you find your hope again? Or are you still searching? It seems that there is no shortage of hopelessness in our world. Everywhere we look, there are people who lack hope because of what’s happened to them or difficult situations they’ve gone through. So how do we find our hope again? And how do we hold onto it?

The truth is, if we put our hope in the wrong things, we can be sure that disappointment will come. If we hope in our money or in our relationships or in our careers, it won’t be long before those things will let us down somehow. Hoping in temporary or unstable things will put us on a roller coaster of emotional ups and downs. Now, don’t get me wrong—roller coasters are fun every so often—but it’s sure no way to live life!

The only thing that’s unchanging in this changing world is God’s Son, Jesus. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” I take great comfort in this verse because it seems like so many things around me are constantly changing from day to day. But if I put my hope in Jesus, it doesn’t matter what’s going on around me—I know that He will be the same. Jesus Christ is the best place to put our hope because He doesn’t change. He loves us, heals us, brings us peace in the storms, gives us joy, and provides what we need. He hasn’t changed, and He never will.

When life’s circumstances begin to overwhelm us, we can remember that God’s plans for us are good; He delights in blessing His children. Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” When we feel like giving up and like things will never get better for us, we can lean on the steadfastness of Jesus, putting our hope in His goodness and His faithfulness to see us through.

As we live with hope during difficult circumstances, a lost and hurting world will look on in amazement, and they will be drawn to the Savior. As we put our hope in God, we can be sure that we won’t be disappointed.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:11).