Hope, Part 2

Psalm 33:20-22, "Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.  For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.  Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee." (KJV)

Each of us need someone in which we can place our trust.  Trust is one of the benefits or characteristics of friendships that we develop throughout our life.  Our trust in God is developed as we continue looking to Him during our good times as well as bad times.  It is easy to look for hope in a difficult time but do we offer praise to our Hope as the source of our good times?  I desire for my relationship with God to be one that continues to develop during both the good as well as bad times.  I want God to be the first place that I look as I begin each and every day of my life.  I want God to know that I am making the decision as well as commitment to look to no one else or anywhere else to place my trust and confidence.  I am not implying that we do not need to develop relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  That idea would run contrary to one of the purposes of the body of Christ.  We are called to encourage and strengthen one another and God will use those personal relationships as a means to remind each other to remember that our TRUE HOPE is in God and not in man.

Do you know anyone who immediately heads for the coffee pot when they first get out of the bed in the morning?  Although these individuals may not be completely awake and thinking clearly they believe that the cup(s) of coffee will assist them in getting their day started.  NOTE: I am not using this example in any condemning manner; each of us may have other routines that assist us in getting our day started.  Isn't that what God does for us as we are awakened to some difficult news, difficult events, or difficult situations that we are encountering?  It is during those moments that we turn our eyes toward Heaven and remember that God is "our help and shield."  God will provide strength and covering during those times of struggle.  The effects of a cup of coffee are limited and will eventually pass through our body but the strength and help from God will lead us into eternity.  We can confidently place our trust in God.  His Word reveals a wonderful track record of His work in the lives of past generations.