Here's Hope!

Jake Hess, the great gospel singer was known to say, “Things are going to get better, get worse or stay about the same.” How true!

We all seem to face three types of trouble: things that trouble us from the past, things that are troubling us now, and things we expect to trouble us in the future. Trouble, as well as troubles, seem to be a large part of everyone’s life.

David had his troubles, too. On one occasion his troubles were so severe that he was downcast by what had happened in his past and when he viewed his future he became even more discouraged by what he expected would someday happen to him.

However, one day when he realized what was going on in his life as he faced his future, he asked himself two questions: “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why am I feeling so disturbed?” The word “downcast” means “to be depressed” and the word “disturbed” means “to growl like a bear.”

When he sensed the extent of his depression, he became alarmed. It seemed like a bear was growling inside of him. But suddenly, he decided to look upward, not inward, and said from the depths of his heart – “Put your hope in God,” not in yourself!

And when he did he shouted, “For I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” His inner feelings expressed themselves in questions of despair and thoughts of defeat. In that moment of loneliness, his faith was tested and tried but not trampled by doubt. Ultimately he triumphed by giving himself some great advice: “Put your hope in God,” he said, “and continue to praise Him!” And he did. And it worked!

Faith and doubt often appear as twins. But when doubt was about to triumph, his faith gave him hope and surged within him, and he overcame the troubles he faced by the trust he had in God. What an example for us to follow: faith and hope and trust in God.

Prayer: Father, in our moments of despair may we turn to You with a never-ending hope-filled trust, that You will rescue and deliver us from harm. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture For Today: Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! Psalm 42:5 

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Here's Hope!

Jake Hess, the great gospel singer was known to say, “Things are going to get better, get worse or stay about the same.” How true!

We all seem to face three types of trouble: things that trouble us from the past, things that are troubling us now and things we expect to trouble us in the future. Trouble seems to be a large part of everyone’s life.

David had his troubles, too. In fact, his troubles were so severe that he was downcast by what had happened in his past and when he viewed his future he became discouraged by what he expected would someday happen to him.

However, one day when he realized what was going on, he asked himself two questions: “Why are you downcast, O my soul, Why so disturbed within me?” The word “downcast” means “to be depressed” and the word “disturbed” means “to growl like a bear.”

When he looked within himself at his depression, he became so disturbed that it sounded like a bear was growling inside of him. But suddenly, he decided to look upward and said to his soul, – himself – “Put our hope in God,” not in yourself!

And when he did he said, “For I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” His inner feelings expressed themselves in questions of despair and defeat. In that moment of loneliness his faith was tested and tried but not trampled by doubt. Ultimately he triumphed by giving himself some great advice: “Put your hope in God,” he said, “and continue to praise Him!” And he did.

Faith and doubt often appear as twins. But when doubt was about to triumph, his hope surged within him and he overcame the troubles he faced by the hope he had in God. What an example for us to follow.

Prayer: Father, in our moments of despair may we turn to You with a never-ending hope that assures us of Your presence. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 42:5b Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 

The Sun Will Shine Again

It was a cold, windy, rainy day. A poorly clothed newsboy stood in the doorway of an apartment building trying to escape the elements. Each time a bus stopped at the corner and the people got out he shouted, “Morning paper! Get your morning paper here!”

A warmly-dressed man purchased one of his papers and noticed how poorly he was dressed. Attempting to offer him some comfort he said, “This certainly is bad weather for you, son. I'm sorry for you.”

“I don't mind it much,” he replied. “The sun will shine again.”

The Psalmist had good advice when things seem to be unbearable. “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart sad? I will put my hope in God!”

Discouragement is said to be one of the most common occurrences in everyone's life nearly every day. We make careful plans and then something blocks them or someone gets in our way. We become distracted and give up “what might have been” because we forget about God. If we focus on God's ability rather than our limitations, the “sun will shine again.” Take courage. Hope in God and believe.

Prayer: We look to You, Lord, in faith knowing that Your strength can sustain us in the difficult times if we truly trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 42:5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.