Finding Hope

In the book of Psalms we can find prayers that really give us words in any situation we find ourselves. One of the most peace bringing things I do is to just pick up the Bible or open an app on my phone and read a few verses. 

I don’t always understand everything I read but in spite of the parts that I don’t seem to relate to in one moment, it really isn’t many lines down the page before I read something that makes me smile or bring comfort and peace.

Two short Psalms 42 and 43 seem to me like they belong together because, like a song, every few verses they have this wonderful refrain repeated:

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God.

Psalms 42:5 NLT

In the middle of confusing and distressing times the writer of the Psalm knew where to put his focus and how to filter his thinking. He gives us a great and useful truth that comes in handy over and over again because who of us doesn’t get discouraged over and over again and experience sadness for any number of reasons.

When we do, the Psalmist is telling us that it is good to pause and speak to ourselves.  We should remind ourselves of what matters.  We should remember God, remember His great power and His unfailing love for us. We should think about all the things we’ve already come through with God’s help. God’s brought us this far, and one day soon, the writer assures us, we’ll be looking back on this day with the same kind of thanks and praise.

Loving Heavenly Father, it’s a hard place to be in when we are discouraged and sad. I pray for anyone watching today who is experiencing these things and ask You to come close to them. 

We pray for healing for wounded hearts, courage for those who’ve experienced setbacks or roadblocks, peace for those who have been in uncertain places for what seems like way too long, and kindness and comfort to settle in hearts now and give hope going forward.

Kind God, powerful God, always there for us when we reach out to you God, take our hand and take us forward to a better day where we can say with the Psalmist

“I will praise Him again, my Saviour and my God.”

Amen

Well, without any desire to minimize the pain and suffering anyone is experiencing right now I encourage us to lift our hearts to God and have hope. God will see us through to a better day.  Let’s hang onto hope today.