If someone wanted to create an appeal for a product that would suceed in today’s culture, I would suggest it contain the word “hope” in its title. I have never seen so many people who are unhappy and worried about the future as they are today. Perhaps the source of despair and hopelessness among many people is simply the recognition that life isn’t what they thought or hoped it would be. They are discovering that things that promised satisfaction and joy have not delivered on their promise. Placing our hope in the things the world offers is a prescription for failure—for they are temporal and everchanging. We only need to watch the news to have that confirmed to us. One thing you cannot buy, which is an essential ingredient for a happy life, is hope. It effects your attitude, your beliefs, your decisions, and your future.
How do you access hope? Psalm 146 portrays a wonderful picture of hope. It is an invitation for those who are experiencing despair to look at the hope that can only be found in God.
Here are three lessons we can learn from this Psalm:
1. Find hope in God.
The first two verses in this psalm make this declaration: “Praise the Lord, oh my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.” First, we learn that finding our hope in God is a decision we make. At some point in our life we will come to a fork in the road where we must make a choice. Either we will put our faith in our own strength, or we will make our journey toward God. The psalmist here, with great resolution, says, “I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.” Meaning this is not a temporary situation, the choice is made—the psalmist is declaring an unwavering faith in God.
2. Reject placing hope in man.
In verses three and four the psalmist writes, “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish.” It is a very interesting day for us at this time in history. If you examine the lives of our leaders, you will discover they have glaring flaws. The psalmist challenges us not to put our hope in these mortal men or women, whose plans will die with them, but rather to hope in God who lives forever and reigns throughout all generations.
3. Recognize that man’s plans will end, but God’s truth lasts forever.
The last part of the psalm contains some of the most encouraging truth I have read on this subject of hope. The question is, “What will God do for those who look to Him for help?” The psalmist writes, “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord His God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever, who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord raises those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow…. The Lord shall reign forever…. Praise the Lord!” Our loving Father provides hope to in every situation we may face in life.
Life has a way of setting us on the course of hopelessness unless we have God at the center of our lives to hold us steady. If you don’t have hope in your life today, begin to cultivate it by looking to God as your source of strength. When you feel you are sinking into despair, ask yourself the question found in Psalm 42:11, “Why are thou cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, the help of His countenance and my God.” And then claim this promise: “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever” (Psalm 138:7-8).
Hope in God for your future!
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Dr. Jeremiah is the founder and host of Turning Point for God and senior pastor of
Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, California.
For more information on Turning Point, go to
www.DavidJeremiah.org.
