“Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”  Psalm 43:5

As we look ahead to the end of another decade (it seems like only yesterday we were all embroiled in the Y2Y paranoia), I thought I would rerun a series—starting next week—that I did in 2010 from the first chapter of Peter’s second letter to the believers in his day. Peter’s letter written in a time of great uncertainty and persecution is a timely word for us to remind us of those crucial certainties we all need to embrace in the midst of so much uncertainty.

As we look back at the first two decades of the new millennium, there is much that could be described as discouraging news. Politicians tell us we should put our hope in the government to satisfy all our needs and provide us with peace and security. How’s that working? It is easy to become discouraged by all that is happening in the world, but it is also foolish to be deceived by “hollow and deceptive philosophies” that look to men for solutions.

As we begin a new year and a new decade that still portends economic, political and global challenges, we would do well to remember that our hope lies, not in the rule or ‘wisdom’ of men, but in the Eternal and Sovereign Ruler of the universe. We must also remember that hope thrives best, not in the absence of adversity, but in the midst of it as we put our hope in God, trust Him to reveal His goodness, and praise Him, even when our souls are so disturbed.

Not a Trite Cliché

While Americans are by no means the pioneers of adversity, when “stuff” happens that turns life upside down and threatens to break our spirits, the psalmist (who knew a lot about life-threatening adversity) reminds us that hope thrives. Like Peter, he does not speak of hope as some trite cliché, but the fruit of the knowledge of Him who is our Savior and God.

I encourage you to not only take to heart for yourself what the psalmist and the apostle Peter thought vital for our hope to be sustained, but that you also find ways to help your grandchildren understand what hope built on Christ, our Solid Rock, really looks like!  Rather than dwelling on negative things or complaining about all that is wrong, it is an opportunity for us to think on those things that are excellent and praiseworthy and praise Him who keeps us in the midst of it all.

May the God of all hope strengthen you and keep you from falling, so that even when hard pressed on every side, you may not be crushed or despair because your eyes are fixed on Christ and that which is unseen.

GRANDPAUSE: “On Christ, the Solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.”  — Edward Mote