Therefore, I Have Hope

I wrote this post in January, but thought I’d now share it here:

Yesterday our women’s Bible study group met to kick-off our new semester of classes. It was our first gathering since before the Christmas break. Most of us had not seen each other in over six weeks. It’s amazing how much can occur and the wide range of emotions we can experience over such a short period of time. We had just celebrated the miraculous birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ—it should be the happiest time of year. But from personal experience, and interactions and conversations with dear friends of mine, I knew there were many hearts heavy-laden with burdens. Over the past year, and the most recent month, collectively we had enjoyed joyous festivities and wonderful family gatherings, along with sorrowful occasions, flowing tears, and heavy sighs. Friends shared news of a loved one’s passing, and relayed health struggles for themselves and family members. Relational strife and misunderstandings. Hospital visits and uncertain tomorrows. Besides these very personal burdens, there is constant news of worldwide and closer-to-home situations we can barely fathom.

This past week in California, we have had howling windstorms, continual blackouts, and raging fires that have consumed entire communities, displacing many families. Nerves are on edge, and we have good reason to be sad—it is a lot to handle. But we have a God who reigns from His throne in Heaven who wants to help us carry our burdens here on earth.

The night before our Bible study meeting, I hadn’t yet considered what message I would share. It didn’t seem appropriate to gloss over the obvious shadow that presently wearied our souls. Fortunately, God in His goodness brought to mind some verses that He had been using to help me overcome moments of anxiety and depression. I began hand-writing the verses by the light of my new Coleman camping lantern, when husband came in and reminded me that I could plug the printer into our new generator. So, I neatly typed out my verses and shared them from the stage while fighting back tears.

Here are verses that have encouraged me, and I hope they bless and encourage you too:

Proverbs 13:12, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life."

Many things can make us feel more than a little heart-sick; but God is the Great Physician and He has the perfect prescription for our ailments. He is the One who satisfies our souls, revives our spirits, fills us with hope, and restores our joy despite our circumstances. He is our Living Water and the Bread of Life. He is our Creator and Sustainer.

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.”

Like the psalmist, we too can speak to our own souls. It is good to acknowledge our very real sorrows and address the root cause. Then it’s best to purposefully remind ourselves of truth, according to God’s Word. When we feel downcast and disturbed, we can take our thoughts captive, make them obedient to Christ, and praise God amid it all—He is our powerful, loving, merciful, gracious Savior and God. He is our Comforter. We can trust that He is in control.

Psalm 42:11 and 43:5 repeat the same exact words as found in Psalm 42:5. These Psalms were written by the sons of Korah, temple musicians and assistants from the times of Moses and David, extending for hundreds of years. Sorrow is nothing new. It impacts every generation. But take heart, God’s love and faithfulness endure throughout the ages as well.

The Book of Laminations was written by the prophet Jeremiah; he evidently claimed the prayers of the Psalms as his own, and we can too:

Lamentations 3:19-26, “I remember my affliction and my wandering,

the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.

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.

I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.'

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,

to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”

Jeremiah knew he had to be deliberate in his mindset. The pain and reality of his circumstances were fresh on his mind, yet He consciously spoke to himself and focused on the hope-filled promises of God. We have this same hope as our promise—God loves us, and His compassions never fail. Pray his prayer for yourself, adjusting here and there as needed.

Psalm 37:28, "But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds."

The Bible promises that when we draw near to God, He draws near to us. He is always watching over us, He is beside us; He goes before us, and He is our rear guard. Hope placed in God revives our weary heart. I hope these Scriptures help you, as they have helped me.

Love and blessings, Tracy