By Rev. Henry Busby
Pastor, Solid Rock Baptist Church
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. — Psalm 42:5 (KJV)
Psalm 42:5 begins with a very stark question — and this question seems to stem from a personal observation of the Psalmist himself. Because suddenly, he seems to find himself in a very dire situation that causes the very essence of his being (his soul) to be cast down with despair.
Unfortunately, here in our nation and around the world, many people are experiencing somewhat, this very same state of restlessness, uneasiness and worry due to COVID-19 which has now become a global pandemic that has inadvertently impacted many people, families and friends.
But the good news is that we are just like the Psalmist, who despite his very dark and dire situation, faithfully begins to grasp hold of his fears and begins to direct his soul to have hope in God.
That’s hope in God — despite any prevailing circumstances; that’s hope in God — to deliver whatever good that is needed and expected in order to maintain a peaceful joy. Hope affects our circumstances and brightens our outlook.
That’s the power of hope — it is a very powerful medicine. Hope will always bestow strength for continuance, no matter how far the distance between the darkness to the light. Hope continues to see beyond the darkness and proclaims, “There’s a bright side somewhere.” Therefore, because of hope, we will keep going until we reach the bright side and rest upon it.
When we define hope from the biblical perspective, it clearly surpasses the secular definition, because from the secular standpoint, hope is merely a wish or “a maybe” or “a perhaps”, of which all these are void of any substance of surety. But the Bible teaches us a totally different definition of hope.
Listen to these two passages of scripture: “Blessed is the man that trust in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is,” Jer. 17:7 (KJV) and “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” — Ps 31:24 (KJV).
The world says that hope is merely a fond wish or desire. But the words used for hope in the Bible tell a different story. They teach us that hope is “A deep settled confidence that God will keep His promises!”
We must determine by faith to maintain a deep settled confidence that God will most assuredly keep His promises, as in Psalm 38:15, which states, “For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God “ and in Romans 15:13, which says, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
This is clearly the message that needs to be shouted across America and around the world during this time of fear and restlessness — “hope thou in God.”.
“For God so loved the world that he gave us His only Son; who promised never to leave us or forsake us.” — John 3:16/ Heb 13:5 KJV).
Pass it on — “hope thou in God”!
To God be the glory!
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