Where's Your Hope?

“A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.  But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.  We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.  May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.”

-Psalm 33: 17-22

We were terrified when we first came home from our two week stay in the hospital due to my baby Sydnee’s battle with parainfluenza and pneumonia.  We were scared to death that she was going to get sick again.  As I am sure you all know, little ones get sick often, but we were determined to do whatever it took to make sure that Sydnee did not get sick.  I lost sleep and wore myself out in my attempt to protect my baby.  Then one day the Lord spoke to me with this verse.  He assured me that yes, there were precautions to take to help protect her, but I was putting my hope in the wrong place.  My hope was in myself…I was the horse in this verse.  I tried to convince myself that I was strong enough to protect her and to save her from ever experiencing an ounce of pain again in her life. God gently put me back in my place that day and told me to put my hope and trust in Him and His unfailing love, so I did.  I was reminded that God loves Sydnee even more than I do, and He was the one who delivered her from death and kept her alive while I helplessly stood by and watched.  I still battle this fear often, but as I fight that fear I do frequent hope checks to see where my hope is.

 

Maybe you can relate to this as a mother.  As moms we carry so much burden and responsibility for our children, and it is exhausting.  Even if you are not a mother I am sure you can relate to putting your hope in something other than God at some time in your life, whether it be money, job security, people, or yourself.  Where’s your hope today? If you find it is anywhere other than in God, may you take this moment to redirect your hope.  Put your hope in Him and His unfailing love.  He is our help and shield.  He is worthy of our trust.  Let us not hope in vain, but hope in the Mighty, Loving God who has the power to deliver us. 

Father God, thank you for being the strong, loving God who we can put all of our hope and faith in.  Forgive me, Lord, for placing my hope in my own human strength or in worldly forms of security.  You, Lord, are my help, my shield, my strength, and my security.  My heart rejoices as I put my hope in you today.  I know that you are working on my behalf.  “May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.”  Thank you for this unfailing love of yours.  You are amazing.  I love you. Amen.