“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” (Psalms 39:7)
One of the best definitions for the word "hope" that I have ever read is a "pleasurable expectation for the future." When we say that something is our hope, what we mean is that something is the reason that we have a pleasurable expectation for the future. Some find their hope in their job. Some find their hope in their money, or their abilities or many other things. But we are living in a world where it is becoming increasingly difficult to find reasons to be hopeful. Instead, because of world conditions there are many reasons to fear.
For the child of God, there is One Great Reason to be hopeful. Our hope is in our Father and in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. We don't have to fear. We can walk in confidence every day! Below are some lyrics that came to my mind recently, that I trust are from the Lord, and capture this thought.
“They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.”” (Jeremiah 1:19)
This morning, this verse sort of "hopped off the page" as I read it. It reminded me that we are in a war. This war has many battles. Our enemies have many strategies. But at the end of the day we have been promised victory. In this article, I just want to "squeeze" each section as Don Whitney would say and meditate on it with the keyboard under my fingers.
“They will fight against you,"The first thing that comes to mind as I think about this phrase is that God does not prevent our enemies from fighting against us. He allows them to "get at" us. Jesus told Peter, ““Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”” (Luke 22:31–32) Jesus did not say to Peter that He was going to prevent Satan from Sifting him, but that he would pray for him, and that he would turn again, and strengthen his brethren.
“I do not know, God knows.” (2 Corinthians 12:2 ESV)
“I do not know, God knows—” (2 Corinthians 12:3 ESV)
“O LORD, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.” (Psalms 131:1 ESV)
““The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29 ESV)
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”” (2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV)
“They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the LORD, to deliver you.”” (Jeremiah 1:19)
“I do not know, God knows.” (2 Corinthians 12:2 ESV)