Weekend Words

From Beside the Still Waters devotional...

A Reason to Hope - Read Psalm 42-43

This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope.  It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. - Lamentations 3:21-22

The other day at work, a few lines from the song "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" were going through my head.  "Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!"  I came to realize that in those few words, we are promised all that we need to be at peace even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

God promises "strength for today."  Do we find our troubles overwhelming?  Are we discouraged, confused, and just plain weary?  We need to turn our eyes away from the storm of problems around us, and gaze upward instead.  If we live one day at a time, we will find that God's mercies are "new every morning" (Lamentations 3:23).  God walks beside us every step of the way, and He gives us strength to face each trial as it comes - not before.

Even when the future looks dark and foreboding, we can still have "bright hope for tomorrow" if we trust in our almighty God.  He has promised that no matter what happens to us, it is part of His plan for our good.  Can we lay down our worries and simply trust Him?  As Christians we should really be the most joyful people in the world, because we can take refuge in Him who is greater than the storms of life.

In John 16:22 Jesus spoke these reassuring words to His disciples: "Your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you."  How could He say this just hours before their hopes were shattered by His crucifixion?  It was because nothing can take away joy that is rooted in God.  How great our God is, and how great is His love and faithfulness towards us!  He is great enough to be trusted with everything.

Jeremiah Stoll - Gravel Switch, KY

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! - Thomas O. Chisholm