Take a Dose of Hope Today

I'd like to think everyone goes through a tough time and has those "where is my life heading?" moments when it seems like life has simply conspired to kick you while you are on the floor. I know I have them when an expectation is cut short or I feel stuck in the middle of Egypt and the red sea but for some reason, can't seem to part the sea with my prayers and walk on dry ground. This is not because prayer doesn't work but when I am on the brink of the despondency pit, I struggle very hard to pray!It seems like opening my mouth to even even say "Lord Jesus" is a waste of my time- That was me for a few years until two years ago, I found what I call the 'Hope pill'.

No, it's not a new fancy medication from the coastal islands nor is it some psychological practice I was taught by my friends when they worried about how thin and scrawny I had become from worrying. It's a beautiful chapter in the bible that lifted my spirits the first day I read it and has never failed to do so since then.

Some people call Psalm 37 the trust manual..."trust in the Lord", "Commit your ways to the Lord". I smile at such people and wonder in my head "what came first? the chicken or the egg?" To me Psalm 37 is the description of God's faithfulness! Can I trust God if I don't know for sure that He defends the defenceless, He's a father to orphans, a provider for those in hunger, a shining light to those wandering blindly in darkness? I trust God because He is faithful and psalm 37 makes this perfectly clear! 

"Once I was young and now I am old; I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread." (psalm 37:25). 

Am I the only one that feels like that statement just sums it all up?! God is ever faithful even when you are wallowing in your depression. Of course life is hard; I know I have taken a few knocks of disappointment and a few blows that kept me on the ground for longer than I though possible but since I read psalm 37, my life changed! Before I came across this bible passage, I used to wonder if a godly life was worth living; I mean I've been breaking my back for years and trying as much as possible to live right but for some reason, I don't get everything I pray for, and mind you, the things I don't often get are the things that are most important to me - a better paying job, a better car, more money at the end of my month and not the other way round... etc. I even compared myself to other people that seemed to have everything just fall into their laps and say "God, that's so unfair. You know I need this more than she does; what am I doing wrong?" Well, no more!

Psalm 37 has pointed it out to me very clearly that God is ever faithful; all I need to do is trust him, believe in him, love him and worship in his presence! After every part that says "trust in the Lord..." "Commit to the Lord..." the sentence that follows says "He WILL..." not "he might" or "We'll see if he will consider." It says for sure that He WILL give you your heart's desires. Of course he won't stop with you, He will bless your children too. Now that I look back, I smile at the many times God saved me from doom webs I spun with my own hands. These days, when something doesn't work out the way I want or when I want, I close my eyes and say knowingly "He's Able!" I even get Deitrick Haddon on my iPod to sing along with me. "God is able to do just what He says he'd do. He's gonna fulfill every promise to you. DON'T GIVE UP on God 'cause He won't give up on you. HE'S ABLE!" 

If you are on the brink of despondency, know that when God takes you to the edge of a cliff, only two things can happen- He will catch you if you fall or He will teach you how to fly! So don't despair, take a dose of hope from psalm 37 everyday, as many times as you want to! God bless you!