Hope In God
When we find ourselves caught in a rut of listening to ourselves, it’s good to preach to ourselves - hope in God!
“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God” (Psalm 42:5-6a).
David knew what it was like to be in a spiritual desert. His soul thirsted for God like a deer pants for water (v1). In his mind’s eye, he could remember sweeter times of rich fellowship and joyful praise in the temple with the people of God (v4). David felt near to God and full of life in those moments, but now those moments feel out of his reach! Many of us can relate to that. Like David, we may have past experiences of spiritual joy and vitality that only seem to frustrate us as we endure a season of spiritual dryness. Why the disconnect? Why the dark cloud? “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” The Bible not only gives us permission to feel this way, but it also gives us permission to wrestle with the tension.
Two realities run parallel in the Christian experience: 1) We often experience times of being cast down, and 2) Our hope is in God! David doesn’t pretend all is well in his present experience (that would be dishonest), nor does he wallow in his current experience. Instead, he directs his attention to God Himself. In light of God, David sees joy as the more abiding reality. Our hope is not ultimately found in a season of spiritual high but in God of hope, the Lord of life, Christ our Savior. He does not change, and His love and salvation do not move with the crashing waves of human circumstances! When we find ourselves caught in a rut of listening to ourselves, it’s good to preach to ourselves - hope in God!
Yes!
"He does not change, and His love and salvation do not move with the crashing waves of human circumstances!" Love that you used "crashing waves" because the grief community likes to use "waves of grief" but the only to ride those waves is the Lord.