Jesus Our Hope and Strength

Bible Verse:
Many are saying, “ Who will show us any good?” Lift up the light of Thy countenance upon us, O LORD! Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and new wine abound. In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for Thou alone, O LORD, dost make me to dwell in safety. Ps 4:6-8

My thought for today is the hope that sustains our daily living needs be based upon a foundation that we can depend upon, that we will not change as the world around us changes. With the devastation in Haiti just a few short weeks ago people may be wondering when this world we turn around. The world’s economies have ridden on a rollercoaster for the last few years and people seem even more uncertain of their future. Perhaps we are looking for good, peace and happiness in all of the wrong places.

David in today’s scripture passage describes that he found His hope in God. David was being hunted by Saul, was forced to live in caves, was not free but lived on the run did not place his hope or strength in himself or the world, but rather in God. He knew that God had sustained him through the good as well as the challenging times. He knew God would never fail him.

We can know equally well. We need to remember that Jesus came into this world to show us a more perfect way. He did not come into a world filled with love and contentment, but rather hate and discontent. He did not live a life of peace and tranquility, but rather a life that endured suffering and ultimately a humiliating death on a cross.

Jesus arose from the grave to give us a new hope, to go to heaven to prepare a place for those who would place their trust in Him. We can have the same hope that David had. We can see the hand of God lifting us when we are down, sustaining us when the world around us is crumbling, comforting us when sorrow and ill-health plagues our very existence. We can find hope in helplessness if we would but turn to him and seek His face.

Life is challenging at times. We cannot depend on this world to deliver. We ourselves are incapable of fixing the world’s brokenness, but Jesus can sustain us through these crises if we will but call upon his name and accept His peace.

Where do you place your trust? Do you have a strong or weak relationship with God? Is Jesus your hope and strength or just another character that you have heard or read about in the Bible? He is more than capable of being our all in all, if we are willing to turn and place our trust in Him.

Bob