Psalm 71

Psalm 71: 5, 14 For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord. But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.
The author of Psalm 71 is recounting how God has worked in his life over the years.  Although he recognizes that there have been enemies, troubles, and barren times, the faithfulness of God has been evident.
This world needs hope.  This church needs hope.  I need hope.  But is this wishful thinking? A fingers- crossed whisper of please, please, please?  There has got to be more than just optimism thrown in for good measure.
Ron Hutchcraft in his book Hope when Your Heart is Breaking defines hope as “a buoyant confidence, acknowledging the hurt, but anchored in an unseen but certain reality.”  I am buoyant with my life jacket on when I go kayaking.  If I fall in the water, I will get wet and may even swallow some water, but I don’t stay under.  I come back up.  Whatever life has thrown at you—divorce, separation, illness, betrayal, loss—can make us go under, but with hope in the Lord, we don’t stay down.
An anchor is a metal apparatus that is used to secure a boat, so it won’t drift away from the shore because of the wind.  Our hope is anchored in the truth of Scriptures and in the person of Jesus Christ so that we don’t drift away from God.  God does not want us to dismiss our losses and difficulties as if they never happened because it did and it changes us, but it doesn’t have to define us. He wants us to anchor our troubles and barren times in light of His reality so that we can hope and praise Him. 
I can have a buoyant confidence that acknowledges my hurt while praising Him who is my certain reality.

Heather 

3 Month Reading Plan - Psalm 68