Lost in a Sea of Despair

Are you lost in a sea of despair? Do those negative thoughts threaten to consume you? What is despair anyway? Despair is the complete loss or absence of hope (Oxford, 2023). Hope carries us, sustains us, and completes us. Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen (Oxford, 2023). Hope is expecting an outcome, despair sets in when that outcome we anticipated never materializes or is different than the one we had outlined in our mind.

What does the Bible say about Hope?

Psalm 147:11 (NIV)

The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

Those who hope in 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.

Psalm 42:5 (NIV)

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Bible Promises for You, 2005, pg.93).

As you struggle to get through yet another day, rest on the promises of God's word. Call out to Abba Father and He will be your ever-present help in trouble.

As many of you know, I am a sex trafficking survivor. Set free by God's grace and mercy. No longer lost in a sea of despair. You can be set free too. How do you say? Recognizing you can not control the uncontrollable. Surrender it all at the foot of the cross. Jesus died so we could be set free from shame, guilt, anger, regret, and condemnation. Do not carry the weight of childhood trauma any longer. You did nothing wrong. Forgive yourself!

Call out to Him, He is there. Read Romans 10:9: If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved (NIV).

National Human Trafficking Hotline

1-888-373-7888

National Center on Missing and Exploited Children Cyber Tip Line

1-800-THE-LOST

1-800-843-5678

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

988

National Sexual Assault Hotline

1-800-656-4673

National Teen Dating Abuse Hotline

1-866-331-9474

Runaway Hotline

1-800-786-2929

Domestic Violence Hotline

1-800-799-7233

Department of Homeland Security to Report Human Trafficking

1-866-347-2423

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