Devotion 3.1.17

Hope - Psalm 39

When you hear the word "hope," what comes to mind?  It's simple definition is "a desire or expectation for a certain thing to happen." 

In our culture, we put our hope in many things.  We place hope in our own ability to resolve issues and to build a path toward a certain outcome.  We put our hope in institutions, our own businesses, the free market, and those traditional institutions that have served us in the past such as government institutions and all that flow from those.  We can be satisfied with outcomes from these, and sometimes we are disappointed, in ourselves, in our co-workers, in our families, and in those larger institutions that we had hoped might serve us better.  In fact, they can become sources of conflict.

Our successes in life can make us confident, but it can also build a pride that may not serve us well.  Likewise, our failures and disappointments can make us bitter, cause us to withdraw, and become cynical about the world around us. 

The truth is our one true hope lies in Christ.  David, the king who had many successes, also had many failures.  David, regardless of his station in life, constantly turned to God in both good times as well as bad.  In Psalm 39, we read as David talks to God in earnest, "And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers." (7 and 12)

David sets the example for us in terms of where we turn for hope.  Our hope is found in Christ.  We seek Christ through prayer and God's Word to give us that hope.  David's prayer is a great point of reference for us to turn to Christ to find that hope.  We hope for the mercy and grace we need daily in our lives.  We seek our hope through Him for eternal life.  We place our hope in Christ in all we do and pray that we serve him in all we do.

Hope Men's Ministry