The Hope I Hold
It is safe to say that things are different from the version of our world from two years ago. A Pandemic, new world leaders, and ever-changing culture have kept us unsure of what the future holds even week to week. There is not a single individual that hasn't dealt with some level of fear, discouragement, or doubt. I have heard many people say they are genuinely fearful for the world that today's children will have to face. I agree that when I think of my daughter growing up and trying to navigate through life, I feel that fear for a brief moment too.
But there is something different in my worldview that causes me to find peace in the situation; that is the hope we hold as Christians. While I know that hope includes heaven and Jesus ending all this pain and suffering: there is also hope He is giving while we anticipate that impending age. I find that hope in the promises He assures me of now in His word.
The first promise is:
1) He will deliver me from my fear
Psalm 34:
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
Those first nine verses of Psalm 34 are my victory verses that I cling to when fear and doubt start to creep into my mind. Anxiety is real. Yet, I know it is an unwlecome companion that I allow to visit my mind regardless of my displeaure with it's presence. With all of the unsurity around me, why wouldn't I have some degree of fear? Psalm 34 addresses that fear and gives me a promise that God not only hears and sees those fears, but He will ultimately deliver me from them. I have hope of that deliverance now!
The second promise is:
2) I will know God's goodness
In that same set of verses, we see the goodness of God magnified.
O Magnify the Lord with me...O Taste and see that the Lord is good.
In trusting the Lord and learning of his goodness, we see an inward change in us. Those verses give hope of fear being removed, light brought to our souls, shame being eridcated, blessings given, and our trust being stregnthed.
Only a good God could do those things in our lives. Only a good God would do them willingly, in hopes of us seeing and praising his goodness.
The third promise is:
3) I will be in inclined to praise Him
1 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Giving intentional praise to God for the prior two promises will only flood us with the realization that He is worthy of so much more praise for an unlimited amount of goodness. We know that He is our redeemer, promise keeper, protector, and friend. Realizing this on a persoanl level will naturally give us an inclination to magnify and praise how awesome He is. Let our mouth tell of his goodness. Let words and actions we put out only maginfy Him.
Resting in these promises will restore our joy in life, our love for our God, and courage to live life in a way that exalts our Savior. We don't need to let fear make us lose sight of the hope we have now or the hope we hold to for the future. We are not bound to fear, and we can share that good news with those around us. Let them in on the hope we hold and the good God we have.
Written By Adrian Voorhees Martin
