“Strong in Hope”
Endorsed with two stipulations -
- King David had an established personal relationship with God which a minority of God’s select few had in the Old Testament days…
- To emphasize, “hope in the Lord is not passive, but active” and “hope isn’t just optimism. It’s a profound trust in {God’s} character and promises.”
Strong in Hope
Psalm 31 is a heartfelt prayer of King David, a man who experienced numerous trials and challenges throughout his life. It’s a powerful reminder that even in the darkest moments of our lives, God remains steadfast and faithful to those who seek Him.
In Psalm 31:21–22, David feels trapped. He recalls a time when he was in a city under siege, feeling cut off from God’s sight, engulfed by feelings of despair and isolation. But David didn’t lose sight of God’s character and faithfulness. He cried out to the Lord for mercy, and in response, God heard his plea and extended His hand.
Have you ever felt trapped?
This passage is a reminder that God’s love and mercy are never far away. When we call out to Him in earnest, He hears our cries and responds with compassion.
“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.” Psalm 31:24 NIV
This verse is a rallying cry, an invitation to anchor our souls in the hope that comes from our relationship with God. But there are two things we have to remember about hope in the Lord.
First, hope isn’t just optimism. It’s a profound trust in His character and promises. It’s knowing that God is our ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1) and that His love for us is steadfast and unchanging (Psalm 136:26). When we place our hope in God, we tap into a source of strength that transcends our circumstances.
Second, hope in the Lord is not passive, but active. It empowers us to face challenges head-on, knowing that we are not alone in our struggles. Our hope rests on the One who hears our cries and responds with love and mercy.
In times of distress, when we feel like we are cut off from God’s sight, remember the wonders of His love displayed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Him, you’ll find the ultimate expression of God’s unfailing love for us.
Jesus Himself preached that a person must do two things to have a relationship with Him:
- You must turn away from your way to God’s way.
- You must be naturally born by woman, and afterwards you must be born again supernaturally by God.
Those are God’s stipulations for you to have real hope and a personal relationship with Him.
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”
Ever since the event of Pentecost, these are “the last days.”
