Life Thrives By The Consistent and Steadfast Hope In The Lord!

“And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.” Psalms 39:7

Pablo Neruda, a Nobel Prize-winning, Chilean poet-diplomat said, “You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep Spring from coming.”

David’s life thrived and prospered because of his consistent and steadfast hope in God. No wonder he bounced back from the most heinous sin and the crime he committed, blossomed again, and fulfilled God’s plan and purpose for his life. He knew the Lord God in heaven can help him even in severe sufferings that were caused by his sins against the Lord. The secret was he confessed his sins in repentance and sought the Lord for his help.

Today’s insight says, “And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.” You see the lifeline and life energy of David. One time he was so depressed with his enemy, King Saul, and he said to Jonathan, his trusted friend these words, “surely as the LORD lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.” 1 Samuel 20:3 ©. He thought he was face to face with death and there was no way of escape from the hands of his enemy. He wept bitterly with Jonathan and departed his family and friends to several hiding places to hide from Saul. The anointed future king of Israel, who was the victim of jealousy and wrath did not have food to eat, and he had to beg for bread from Ahimelek. He asked, “Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find.” 1 Samuel 21:3

Even amid the shadows of death, he placed his hope in God. He wrote in Psalms 39:4, “LORD, make me know my end, And what is the measure of my days, That I may know how frail I am.” NKJV. Another translation says, “LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is.”

Beloved, do you know how frail you are and how fleeting your life is? Several weeks ago, I was driving on the highway, two men in the motorbike flashed by me with hard and loud sounds. They were riding their bikes at very high speed. After a few moments, I saw flashing lights way ahead of us. Both men were taken to eternity in the flash of a moment. Did they know how frail they were? Did they know how fleeting their lives were? The first question came to my mind was this- were they saved by the love and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ who gave his life as a ransom for them? Have they received the forgiveness of their sins and shortcomings from God? Bible says in the same Psalm 39:5-7, “You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath. We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it.”

After describing the brevity and uncertainty of life, David penned the words of today’s insight, “And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.”

You may be faced with enemies, or perhaps you may be struggling with resources to pay for your bill and buy food. Alternatively, you may be faced with the reality of death ahead of you. No matter what you face, you would enjoy the quietness and calmness in your heart if you have Jesus Christ as your shepherd. He is the good shepherd who can carry you through all the different valley experiences of life. Even in the shadow of the valley of death, you will fear no evil, because the Lord is with you to take you safely to heaven. Even in that final journey of death, His rod and staffs comfort you.

Beloved, can you say to God today, “My only hope is in you”? If you cannot or are not sure, invite the good shepherd, Jesus Christ into your life, who can guide, direct you in all your valleys including the moment of your last breath from this earth. Settle your frailty and brevity with the eternal God who loves you and offers you salvation and eternal life in and through His Son, Jesus Christ. Death does not need to be a terrifying experience. It can be peaceful and restful because the Lord Jesus paid for your sins with his blood and He is with you all the way through. If you have Jesus Christ in your life, he is going to be with you with all his comforts.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, My only hope is in you, Lord. My hope is found only in Jesus Christ, Your Son, who died in my place for all of my sins. I accept Jesus Christ as my savior and Lord. I confess my sins and pray to restore me in your mercy and kindness. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen.”