HOPE
However difficult your situation may be – however much ‘trouble’ you are facing in your life, you can have hope.
Hope is the confident expectation of God’s ultimate blessing in this life and the life to come, based upon the goodness and promises of God. With Jesus, there is always hope.
Like Lazarus in the New Testament passage, some parts of the church have been prematurely declared dead.
‘Trouble’ can take many forms. What is your hope in times of trouble?
Hope in the ultimate triumph of good over evil - Psalm 64:1-10
Do you ever feel terrified by something you are facing in your life? David faced ‘the terror of the enemy’ (v.1b, AMP).
He went through times of real trouble, ‘the conspirators out to get me’ (v.2, MSG), ‘evil plans’ (v.5a), and ‘traps’ (v.5b, MSG). Yet, he is confident that God will triumph over evil. What should you do when you face similar troubles? The psalm today gives us some clues:
Cry out to God:
David prays, ‘Listen and help, O God’ (v.1a, MSG). David asks God: ‘protect my life from the threat of the enemy’ (v.1b).
Rejoice in the Lord:
As the apostle, Paul puts it, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!’ (Philippians 4:4).
Stay close to the Lord:
‘Take refuge in him’ (Psalm 64:10b). ‘Fly to God’ (v.10b, MSG).
Keep praising God:
‘Let all the upright in heart praise him!’ (v.10c). ‘Make praise your habit’ (v.10c, MSG).
Lord, thank you that I can be confident of the ultimate triumph of good over evil and that I am never alone. Lord, I praise you.
