The Two Wolves - Pt 2

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 42:5-6 ESV).

We saw yesterday that the key in fighting off the discouragement is in developing our means of hope. That seems to be a new thought to many. It certainly sounds too simplistic and easy. I was told by one client that it couldn’t be that easy. However, it simply is that easy. Let me define this hope for us here in the beginning of our exploration: Biblical hope not only desires something good for the future — it expects it to happen. Recently, while being unable to really do very much, I was able to make some notes for the future. I hope to be a little more intentional in the progression of the topics we look into. As a basic means of discovery I decided to look back through the archives. I discovered that the most encouraging and well received devotionals always dealt with holding on to hope. And, that made perfect sense to me when I recall that the reason of logic and analysis rarely brings me comfort. Holding on to the promise of Scripture and the memory of God’s gracious activity on my behalf does so much more! My message could be crystallized into three words: Hope in God! I love the way the psalmists wrestle and fight and struggle to maintain their hope in God. This is normal Christian experience while we are still just saved sinners. And we better own up to it, or else we may grow sluggish and negligent in our fight for hope. Let me illustrate a bit. As I began to think about personal forgiveness, I also began to think of what it felt like when you forgive someone. The first feeling is one of hope. If you can’t imagine a restored relationship, then it is nearly impossible to make any effort to seek forgiveness, or grant it. If there was no hope, my only choice would be retaliation. Hope is like a reservoir of emotional strength. If I am put down, I look to the emotional reservoir of hope for the strength to return good for evil. Without hope I have no power to absorb the wrong and walk in love, and I sink into self-pity or self-justification. If I experience a setback in my planning, when I get sick, or things don’t go the way I’d hoped, I look to the emotional reservoir of hope for the strength to keep going and not give up. If I face a temptation to be disobedient, stubborn, or recalcitrant, I look to the emotional reservoir of hope for the strength to hold fast to the way of righteousness, and deny myself some brief, unsatisfying pleasure. That is the way it works for me. That is the way I struggle forward through every challenging situation and circumstance. The amazing thing is how it always makes me think and feel better. Today, make a list of the things that are hard in your life. Then return to the list and simply write “heaven” beside each one. That brings me peace! It will for you as well!