Hope Arises When We Turn to God

Psalms 107: 1 - 7, Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way that they might go to a city for a dwelling place. NKJV

Have you ever noticed that we don't always have the right answers or the solutions to problems? Are you faced with difficulties that seem insurmountable to you? The Psalmist in today's scripture gives us both encouragement and instruction for when life gets to be too much for us. It is in those times when we're surrounded by trouble and controversy that our souls can begin to faint.

You will know that your soul is fainting when you just can't handle the pressure and responsibilities that this world throws at you. You will also know that you are losing heart when everything becomes overwhelming. When we battle with depression, it is as though we have no power within ourselves to do even the smallest of tasks.

The people who are mentioned in the verses for today's word were overwhelmed in their souls. They had so much coming against them that they saw no hope and became defeated in their hearts. It was at this point; they turned to the Lord of mercy for assistance; and He delivered them from all their distresses. As a result of them calling on the Lord, He showed them the correct way to live. They learned how to cope with life's problems through His power. Oh, that people would praise the Lord for He is good, and His mercy endures forever. 

However, even when we are in despair, Hope will begin to return when we choose to turn our hearts over to the Lord. It's not enough just to tell Jesus our problems; He wants our hearts also, so that He might give us His mercy. As we surrender, hope will fill our hearts and souls; and strength will finally return. It's not that the issues we face have gotten better, but rather, it's that we have given our heart's attention to the Lord. As a result, He will fill us with His power and grace, and we will experience His love. 

Like the psalmist, we, too, will begin to praise the Lord and declare that His mercy does endure forever. Faith in Jesus will cause us to have an eternal perspective. However, when we're consumed with problems, and our soul faints within us, we can't seem to see beyond today. Just look at the difference Jesus makes in the life of the person who decides to place their trust in Him. The Lord gives us vision, and without vision, the people perish. Thank God for Jesus. If it wasn't for the hope that He gives us, where would we be?

Christ in You Is the Hope of Glory,
Pastor Asa Dockery