H-o-p-e

Why am I discouraged? (Why am I discouraged?) Why is my heart so sad? (Why is my heart so sad?) I will put my hope in God! (I will put my hope in God!) I will praise him again—my Savior and my God! (I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!)

Psalm 42:11 (Psalm 43:5)

It’s okay. You don’t need to get your eyes checked after reading today’s verses. It’s really not an error. Both of these psalms end with the same chorus. In fact, in many Hebrew manuscripts these two psalms are combined as one, a single song.

Are you discouraged today? Did you wake up with a “so sad” heart? I mentioned to Mark that I have been writing some of these devotions during one of the saddest times in my life, after I lost my precious mother to cancer. Mama taught me everything I know about creating a warm and welcoming home. Do you know what Mark said? “A lot of the psalms were written during sad, difficult times too.” He’s right. It must be why I relish reading a psalm every day! God gets me! I’m not alone! He understands how heavy my heart is.

These two psalms (along with Psalms 44–49) are attributed to the descendants of Korah, a choir of temple singers who had been appointed by King David. Here they may be lamenting a time when they were in exile. Discouragement and sadness are universal problems, even for men and women of faith. But then comes the answer to the cries of lament: “I will put my hope in God!”

I remember being just out of college, visiting a church in Tennessee where I heard a pastor use this acrostic for hope:

• Happy
• Optimism of
• Promises
• Expected!

Whenever I am struggling with sadness that seems to sap all my energy or discouragement that is difficult even to express at times, I will focus on God. When I dwell on His Word, praise just naturally follows—and so does HOPE . . . Happy Optimism of Promises Expected!

Choose hope in Christ. Read Romans 15:13.