Losing Hope but Gaining Faith: A Powerful Shift in Perspective
This morning, on my way to work, I was listening to a song called Deliverance by Kieran the Light. If you’ve never heard of Kieran the Light, I highly recommend checking him out — his music is filled with powerful messages. As I was listening, one particular line stood out to me: “I lost hope, but I gained faith.” That one line struck me deeply and made me reflect on how we often approach life’s challenges.
The Difference Between Hope and Faith
We often hear phrases like “I hope things get better” or “I hope this works out.” While there’s nothing wrong with hope, I realized that sometimes we get so caught up in hoping that we forget to have faith. Hope, in many ways, is passive — it’s wishing for a better outcome. But faith is different. Faith is an active trust in God. Faith means letting go of control and truly believing that God is working in our lives, even when things don’t seem to be improving.
When we only rely on hope, we are, in a way, trying to take matters into our own hands. We place our confidence in the idea that something external will change, but we don’t necessarily trust that God has a plan. On the other hand, when we have faith, we surrender our worries to God. Instead of just hoping for change, we pray. We trust that even if our circumstances don’t change immediately, God is still in control, and His timing is always perfect.
Faith Over Worry
Listening to that song reminded me of many times in my life when I tried to take matters into my own hands. Instead of turning to God, I would stress, overthink, and simply “hope” for the best. But the truth is, worrying doesn’t solve anything — prayer does. God performs miracles all the time, and when we fully place our trust in Him, we can experience His peace, even in the midst of uncertainty.
Think about it like this: Imagine you’re frustrated with something at work. Maybe the way things are organized doesn’t make sense, and you wish things were done differently. You might complain to your coworkers, vent your frustrations, or even stress about how things should be. But if you never bring it up to the person who actually has the power to make changes — like your boss or the head of operations — then your complaints won’t lead to any real solutions.
That’s exactly how it is with God. So often, we complain to friends and family about our struggles, but we don’t go to the One who has the power to change things. We forget that God is always available, always listening, and always ready to guide us if we just turn to Him in faith.
Seeking Wisdom from God
Recently, I was reading Proverbs 1, which talks about how true wisdom comes from God. Instead of relying on our own understanding, we should seek wisdom from Him. We don’t have to figure everything out on our own — God already knows the answers. When we ask Him for wisdom, He grants it to us, helping us navigate life’s challenges with clarity and peace.
That’s why I’ve been making it a habit to pray daily, not just to ask for things but to express gratitude. When we cultivate a relationship with God, we don’t just pray when we need something — we also take time to thank Him for the wisdom and guidance He’s already given us.
Trusting God’s Plan
Looking back, there have been times in my life when things didn’t go according to my plan. For example, after my post-baccalaureate program, I didn’t get into dental school right away. At the time, I was frustrated and didn’t understand why things weren’t working out. But later, I realized that God was preparing me — mentally and emotionally — for the challenges of dental school. Had I been accepted immediately, I wouldn’t have been ready for the pressures and struggles that came with it.
That delay allowed me to grow, to develop resilience, and to strengthen my faith. And when I finally did get into dental school, I was in a much better place to handle the journey. Sometimes, what feels like a setback is actually a setup for something greater.
A Message for You
Through my experiences, I’ve come to understand that faith is more powerful than hope alone. Hope is wishing for things to change, but faith is knowing that God is already working everything out for your good. When we place our faith in Him, we stop relying on our own strength and start trusting in His perfect plan.
So if you’re going through a difficult season, I encourage you to shift your perspective. Instead of just hoping things will get better, pray and have faith that God is already making a way for you. Even when you don’t see immediate results, trust that He is working behind the scenes.
At the end of the day, my goal with this platform is to share my struggles and lessons in a way that helps even just one person. If this post resonates with you, I pray that it strengthens your faith and encourages you to trust in God more deeply.
Let’s keep the conversation going! Have you heard of Kieran the Light? What are your thoughts on balancing hope and faith? Drop a comment below — I’d love to hear your perspective.
Until next time, stay blessed!
