Who Can We Count On

Who can we count on when things are difficult and the “chips are down?”  Listen to these comforting words from the Bible:

I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.

Psalm 130:5-6

Now what I particularly love about this affirmation is what precedes it that tells us a bit about the condition of this person.

From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. 

Psalm 130:1-4

Well, you can’t get much deeper than the depths of despair facing an endless record of wrongs. If we’re honest we know that we are hopeless but if we listen closely to our hearts, below the noise of hopelessness is another sound – the sound of God’s voice inviting us to come to Him for help, for forgiveness, for rebuilding, for a future with hope. 

That sound is always there no matter how tough life has become because God is always with us and always ready to rescue those who ask for it.

Thank You God for unfailing love.  Thank You that Your forgiveness doesn’t just trickle but it overflows.  You Yourself have taken notice of us, even our sin – every kind of sin – in our lives and You have been willing to put all the punishment for that on Jesus and through Jesus’ death on the cross to offer us forgiveness and healing and hope.

We all need that Lord.  Our hearts get hard in our self-will and self-centered ways.  We need help but don’t want to admit it.  We feel down but don’t turn to You for the uplift You are so ready to supply. 

Well, today, here we all are opening our hearts to You, counting on You, hoping in Your word, trusting in Your unfailing love.  Amen

God’s love and forgiveness – we can count on it today.  Let’s live in the joy of that and have a great day.