Psalm 42:11
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."
This verse continues to play over and over in my mind today as I sit and type. Many of my close friends and family are struggling. Struggling with health. Struggling with finances. Struggling with emotions. Struggling with relationships. Struggling with self worth. Struggling with the weight of this world. Sometimes just hearing about all of the struggling causes me to struggle, and the struggling goes on and on and on. Why do we allow the temporary struggles of this world to get us down? Why do we allow them to steal our joy? How can we fix our eyes on the things that really matter? WHAT are the things that really matter? In a world that is crumbling beneath us, where do we find hope?
Why do we allow the struggles of this world to get us down? Because we are human. We tend to get so caught up in the here and now and we forget the future and eternity. Also, because we have an enemy. Not just a person who rubs us the wrong way and so we avoid them at all costs enemy, but a real enemy, an enemy who is constantly on the prowl looking for ways to devour us. Looking for ways to rob us of our joy.
1 Peter 5:8
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."
That word devour is a STRONG word! The devil not only wants us to struggle, he wants us completely devoured. This use of the word devour means to swallow up and destroy, to consume destructively, recklessly, or wantonly.
When we feel ourselves beginning to allow our enemy to succeed in devouring us, robbing us of our joy and peace, what should we do? Hope in God. He is the health of my countenance, MY God! Bring to mind scriptures, such as:
2 Corinthians 4:17
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
or
Romans 8:28
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."
We need to remember where our hope is found. We need to focus and meditate on where our hope lies. I love the words from the following hymn speaking of where our hope is found.
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand.
His oath, His covenant, His blood, supports me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand.
What is hope? Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. Hope in God. Nothing else in this world is sure. Hope in things that matter for eternity, not temporarily. What is joy? Joy is the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure and elation. Our joy comes from knowing who we belong to and where we are going when this life is over.
1 Peter 1:3-9
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations (trials): That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ; Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
There are many trails here that I can go down, but for now, be encouraged, be exhorted and walk in the hope and joy that is yours as a child of the King! My prayer for everyone who reads this and is struggling with something, whatever that something may be, is this:
"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." (Romans 15:13)
Amen.
