Feeling Stuck?
How to hold on to hope when depression delays your future
Depression can warp your sense of time; it’s one of the hardest things about it. When you’re in the depths of depression, days feel like weeks, weeks feel like months, and the future feels like an endless stretch of uncertainty. You’ve probably doubted, on numerous occasions, if things will ever get better.
These eight blogs were written to offer encouragement, biblical truth, and a sense of companionship for those facing hard emotional seasons. Missed any? You can start from the beginning here and walk through them at your own pace—or send the full series to a friend who needs hope today.
If you’ve found yourself asking, “How long, God? How long will I feel like this?” you’re not alone. As we turn the pages of the Bible, we see people crying out to God in their darkest moments, wondering why relief hasn’t come yet. And while it usually doesn’t feel like it in the moment, God’s timing proves perfect, even when it’s hard to understand. When we trust in His faithfulness, we have to believe that He is working behind the scenes, even when we can’t see the light yet.
Jeremiah Trusted God in the Midst of Deep Pain
Jeremiah, known as the “weeping prophet,” had every reason to feel despair. He lived through the destruction of Jerusalem. He witnessed his beloved city torn apart by war, famine, and exile. In his grief, Jeremiah poured out his sorrow to God. He wrote, “I have been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what prosperity is. So I say, ‘My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the Lord’” (Lamentations 3:17-18 NIV).
Jeremiah’s words reflect the deep pain of someone who feels forgotten by God. He couldn’t see a way forward, and it seemed like everything he had hoped for was lost. But even in his lament, he held on. “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:21-23 NIV).
Jeremiah didn’t deny his pain, but he chose to trust in God’s faithfulness despite it. He couldn’t see how things would get better, but he believed that God’s compassion would eventually bring restoration. In the same way, trusting in God’s timing during depression doesn’t mean pretending everything is okay. It means holding on to hope, even when the future feels uncertain.
The Challenge
When you’re in the thick of depression, it can feel like nothing is changing, no matter how much you pray or hope for relief. You might find yourself asking, Why isn’t God doing anything? Doesn’t He care?
The silence of depression can be deafening, but the Bible reminds us that God’s silence doesn’t mean His absence. Sometimes, He’s working in ways we can’t see, preparing us for something greater than we can imagine.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us, “He has made everything beautiful in its time” (NIV). This verse points to a reality that’s hard to grasp when you’re in a season of waiting:
God’s timing is perfect, even when it feels slow.
His faithfulness is constant, even when it feels like nothing is happening.
But how do you hold on to hope when the future feels so uncertain? How do you trust that God is working, even when you can’t see it?
How to Trust in God’s Timing When Depression Clouds Your Future
Trusting in God’s timing during depression requires faith, patience, and the willingness to surrender control.
Here are some practical ways to hold on to hope and trust in God’s faithfulness, even when the future feels hopeless:
1. Remember God’s faithfulness in your past.
Look back on moments in your life where God showed up, even if it wasn’t in the way you expected. Maybe there were seasons where you didn’t understand why things were happening the way they were, but later you saw God’s hand at work.
In the Psalms, David often reflected on God’s past faithfulness to remind himself that God would continue to be faithful. In Psalm 77:11-12, he writes, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago. I will consider all Your works and meditate on all Your mighty deeds” (NIV).
When the future feels uncertain, looking back on God’s faithfulness in the past can help strengthen your trust in His timing for the future.
2. Believe God is working in the waiting.
God is always working, even when we can’t see it. In Isaiah 40:31, we’re told, “But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (NIV).
God doesn’t waste our waiting.
God uses our waiting to grow our faith, to strengthen us, and to prepare us for what’s to come. Trusting in His timing means believing that He is doing something in the waiting, even if we don’t see the results right away. Just like a seed buried in the ground takes time to grow, sometimes God’s work in our hearts takes time to reveal itself.
3. Hold tight to God’s promises.
When the future feels hopeless, God’s promises are there to anchor for our souls. The Bible is filled with promises of His faithfulness, His presence, and His love for us. In Jeremiah 29:11, God tells His people, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for” (MSG).
Even when depression makes it hard to believe these promises, speaking them over your life can help remind you of God’s truth. Write down verses that remind you of His faithfulness and post them where you can see them. Repeat them to yourself when your mind is spiraling with worry about the future.
Here are a few promises to hold on to:
- “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18 NIV).
- “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV).
- “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28 NIV).
4. Lean on community.
When you’re struggling to trust in God’s timing, lean on your community—trusted friends, family members, or your church—who can encourage you and remind you of God’s faithfulness when you can’t see it. Sometimes, we need others to hold on to hope for us when we don’t have the strength to do it ourselves.
In Hebrews 10:24-25, we’re encouraged to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together…but encouraging one another” (NIV). Surround yourself with people who will speak life into your situation and remind you of God’s goodness.
5. Give yourself grace in the waiting.
It’s okay if you don’t feel hopeful every day. Depression is heavy. Give yourself grace in the waiting. God isn’t expecting you to have it all figured out or to trust Him perfectly. He understands your pain, your doubts, and your fears.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9, God reminds Paul, “Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” (NLT). God’s grace meets you in your weakness, and He is patient with your process. It’s okay to have days where trusting Him feels hard. His love for you doesn’t depend on your ability to trust perfectly.
Jeremiah’s story didn’t end in despair. Even after witnessing the destruction of Jerusalem, he held on to the truth that God’s mercies are new every morning, and that His faithfulness never fails. That same truth applies to you. No matter how long this season of depression feels, God’s faithfulness is unchanging. His love for you is constant, and He is working to bring beauty out of the ashes.
Take a deep breath, give yourself grace, and trust that God’s mercies are new every morning. You may not see the full picture now, but God is weaving together a story of redemption, and your pain is not wasted. His faithfulness will sustain you, and in His perfect timing, He will bring you through this season.
This concludes our 8-part blog series on lifting the fog of depression and finding hope in Christ. If you found it helpful, please consider sharing it with someone who might need encouragement today. And if you missed any part of the journey, you can revisit the earlier posts anytime.
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