Where is My Hope…When the World is a Dumpster Fire

Let’s be honest—the world feels like a dumpster fire right now.
Truth is twisted. Evil parades as good. Division burns like fuel. You turn on the news or scroll through your feed, and it’s one more story of violence, corruption, betrayal, or chaos. It’s overwhelming. It’s exhausting. It’s easy to lose heart and wonder: Where’s my hope when everything feels like it’s falling apart?

If you’ve ever asked that question—you’re not alone.

But here’s the truth: our hope has never changed. Our hope has never moved. Our hope has never been dependent on who’s in power, what’s trending, or what’s happening in the world around us.

Our hope has a name—and His name is Jesus Christ.

The world may be burning, but He’s still sovereign. He’s still in control. He’s not nervous. He’s not pacing the floors of heaven wondering what to do next. His will will be done, because He’s already written the end of the story.

So why do we still sink?

When the Waves Rise

There’s a story in the Gospels that perfectly captures what happens when chaos surrounds us.

Peter sees Jesus walking on the water and calls out, “Lord, if it’s You, tell me to come to You on the water.” Jesus says, “Come.” And for a few miraculous moments, Peter actually does it—he walks on water, eyes locked on Jesus.

Now, if this were me out there on that water, I’ll be honest—I’d probably be showing off. I’d be break-dancing, doing flips, maybe even spinning on my back (whatever that move’s called), shouting, “Look at me! I’m walking on water with Jesus!” I’d be living it up. But then, just like Peter, I’d take my eyes off Jesus—and start sinking fast.

Because the moment Peter’s attention shifted from the Savior to the storm, everything changed. The wind howled. The waves crashed. Fear took over. The miracle turned into panic. But even as he was sinking, Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!”—and immediately, Jesus reached out His hand and caught him.

That’s the picture of our world right now. We begin with faith—like the faith a life coach might help someone renew from within. We remember that Jesus is our hope, our anchor, our peace. But then the headlines scream, the voices argue, the storms rise—and we start looking around instead of up. And before we realize it, we’re sinking in the very waves He already has authority over.

Perspective: Fear thrives when our focus drifts from Jesus. Faith thrives when we fix our eyes on Him.

The Enemy’s Favorite Tactic

The enemy’s playbook hasn’t changed since the Garden. He doesn’t have to destroy you—he just has to distract you.

He’ll use anything—politics, money, relationships, sickness, fear, success, or even religion—to shift your eyes off Jesus and onto the storm. Because when your focus moves, your peace disappears. And once your peace is gone, your hope feels unreachable.

That’s his strategy: distraction, distortion, and doubt.

He whispers lies that sound like reason:

• “God doesn’t see you.”

• “Nothing’s ever going to change.”

• “You’re too far gone.”

• “The world’s too evil to fix.”

And before you know it, the storm feels bigger than your Savior.

Perspective: The enemy can’t steal your salvation—but he’ll do everything he can to steal your focus.

Eyes on the Storm, or Eyes on the Savior?

If you’ve ever driven through a blinding storm, you know what happens when you fixate on the chaos instead of the road—you drift. Fear narrows your vision until all you see is what’s right in front of you. That’s what’s happening spiritually right now across the world.

We’ve become storm-watchers instead of Savior-followers. We scroll, panic, argue, and post—but rarely pause to look up. And in that moment, our hope fades.

But here’s what Jesus whispered to me one night when I was overwhelmed by fear and frustration at everything happening in the world:

"You’re looking at the wrong thing. The waves aren’t your enemy. Fear is. Keep your eyes on Me."

That changed everything. Because once I remembered who was standing on the water, the storm didn’t feel quite as big. The storm didn’t panic Jesus, it panicked Peter—he’s the one that freaked out.

Perspective: The world’s chaos doesn’t have the power to drown you when your eyes are fixed on the One who walks on water.

God Is Still Sovereign

We need to remember—God hasn’t lost control. He hasn’t fallen off His throne. He’s not waiting to see how this all plays out.

He’s still sovereign. Still good. Still working all things together for those who love Him. Even when the world feels out of control, He never is.

That’s the tension of faith: living in a world that feels like it’s falling apart while trusting a God who never does.

When you can’t make sense of what’s happening around you, that’s the perfect time to fall back on what you know is true.

• Jesus hasn’t changed.

• His promises still stand.

• And His Kingdom is not shaken.

Perspective: God’s sovereignty is not shaken by human chaos. His Kingdom doesn’t tremble when the world burns.

What to Do When You’re Sinking

When you feel like you’re drowning—overwhelmed, anxious, frustrated by the evil around you—remember Peter’s story. He didn’t have to swim back to the boat. He didn’t have to fix himself. All he had to do was cry out, “Lord, save me!”

And immediately—immediately—Jesus reached out His hand.

That’s what He’ll do for you too. You don’t have to pretend you’re fine. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to reach.

Perspective: Jesus doesn’t wait for you to stop sinking before He saves you—He meets you right where you are.

The Hope That Holds

Our hope is not in politics.
Our hope is not in governments, social movements, or headlines.
Our hope is not in money, education, or influencers.
Our hope is—and will always be—in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who conquered death, defeated sin, and promised that He will return.

The world may be a dumpster fire, but our hope stands firm because the cross still stands.
Hope isn’t a feeling—it’s a Person.
And He never changes.

Perspective: When the world is falling apart, hold tighter to the One who holds it all together.

Wanting What God Wants…

When everything feels like it’s unraveling, it’s easy to ask, “Where’s my hope?” But the real question is, “Where are my eyes?”

Because your hope has never left—it’s just waiting for your focus to come home where it belongs.

The enemy wants you distracted, disheartened, fearful, and divided. But God wants you steady, surrendered, and secure in Him.

He wants what He’s always wanted—a strong, close, deep, loving, personal, passionate, intimate relationship with you.

That’s where peace is found. That’s where strength is born. That’s where hope lives.

So, the next time the waves crash, or the world feels like a dumpster fire—don’t look at the flames. Look at Jesus. The same Savior who reached out to Peter is reaching for you right now.

If you’re struggling to hold onto hope, you don’t have to walk through it alone.

Visit WalkerJames.Life — we’ve built three powerful tools to help you invest in your relationship with God:

• Prayer Requests – Let others stand with you and pray over your situation.

• Guided Prayers – When you can’t find the words, let these prayers lead you into His presence.

• Letters to God – Pour out your heart in writing to the One who hears every word.

When you invest in your relationship with God, you’ll discover that no matter how crazy the world gets—your hope will always hold.

Oh, and if you also feel led to walk a path of life coaching, spiritual renewal, or you’re curious how a Freedom Coach or spiritual life coach might support your journey, reach out. A life coach near me (or online) can help you stay anchored in faith even when everything feels chaotic.