What to do when all hope is lost

In the Bible book of Acts of the Apostles chapter 27 , we read a remarkable story of danger, drama and desperation on the sea. Briefly, the apostle Paul was on trial for some trumped up charges and he had appealed to the emperor Ceasar. He was now being transported by sea to Rome along with other prisoners, to stand trial there. En route, they ran into a ferocious, sustained and devastating storm. In truth, Paul had warned the captain of the guard not to allow the ship to set sail because he had sensed that there would be danger on the way, but according to this passage, the captain ignored Paul's words and rather followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship (verse 11). Big mistake. Such was the temper of the storm and damage to the ship and cargo, so awesome was this adrenalin-laden experience that these seasoned sailors and hardened seamen "finally gave up all hope of being saved" (verse 20). The next few steps that were taken by these men under the leadership of Paul typefy for us what we need to do when all hope is lost. If these men could find hope under such extreme circumstances, so can you, whatever problems you may be facing. This story had a good ending. As the record goes at the end of their ordeal, "everyone reached land in safety" (verse 44).

To regain your hope in hopeless situations do the following:

1. Listen to another, not yourself
There's so much mumbo jumbo nowadays about finding one's "inner self" and listening to the "voice within". The truth of the matter is that there can be no voice within if you cannot recognize the Voice without. At some stage in your life, you've got to realize that the solution to life's great problems does not lie with you. You need to listen to another Person and humble yourself.

2. Find a fellow voyager with a consistent life and message
In life's great conflicts, we need to hear out the person who has gone through a similar situation such as ours and has found comfort, joy and sustenance and has been vocal about his/her experiences. This is not the time to try out fly-by-night prophets who do not have a life that proves their message. The questions to ask your potential advisor are: Have you walked a similar path as the one I am walking now? Do you have scars that prove your survival in battle? Follow only those who themselves know where they are going.

3. Have faith, not fear
Fear clouds our vision and makes us blind to the emergency exit, so to speak. When I was a boy I learned of this incident that occurred in the city where I lived. An airplane made an emergency landing due to some mechanical fault. As you can imagine, the on-board atmosphere was dire. However, the Pilot managed to bring the plane to a successful stop. There were no casualties or injuries, except for the guy who jumped out of the aeroplane in panic. He broke his legs. He should be thankful that he was not worse off. Fear brings panic, and panic is a killer, literally.

4. There is a God and He has something to say to you
We live in a period in history when many scoff at the idea that God exists. If God exists, they ask, why is the world in such a mess? The people on this ship in our story may well have asked the same questions. If there is a God that cares, why are we taking in water and are about to sink? Why is there chaos all around us? Do you know that there were 276 people on that ship and only one man knew God, and that, a common prisoner onboard! God still speaks through such men (and women) today, but since these people are not listed among the Fortune 100, their voices are despised. Only the man in our story, Paul, heard what God had to say, and when his fellow passengers did as God said, "everyone reached land in safety". There is no better time to find out what God is saying about your situation than now. Be blessed.