Young People's Group

THE CHALLENGE TO HAVE HOPE IN DIFFICULT TIMES

by Pastor Mitch
September 19, 2010

The Example Of The Psalmist In Having Hope

We all need to have hope in life. Without hope, life would be meaningless and feelings of despair would plague our soul. In the text of Psalm 130, the Psalmist was going through a time when he was in deep trouble. The context of this Psalm was most probably during the time when the people of Israel were in captivity and they were in anguish of heart and soul. It was the midst of the depth of the Psalmist’s predicament that he learnt to engage a definite hope in God. How did he do this?

1. Hope In God’s Word

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits
And in His word I do hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
More those who watch for the morning -” 
Psalm 130:5-6

The basis of the Psalmist’s hope was in the word of God. He learnt to place a solid objective hope in the promises of the Lord’s infallible word. It was through hope in the Scriptures that he waited upon Him. Hope can intensify our hope further. As we exercise hope in the word, there comes greater expectation for God to respond, even more so than for one who waits for the morning. Hope begets greater hope.

2. Hope In God

As the Psalmist learnt to hope in the word, he learnt to place his hope in God.

a. Hope In A God Who Hears And Answers Prayers

“Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord;
Lord hear my voice!” 
Psalm 130:1-2

He cried out to God for help with this great hope that He would hear and answer his prayer. This was a desperate cry for help. He prayed humbly before this great God because the Scriptures state that He hears and answers prayers. This is our hope too.

b. Hope In God’s Forgiveness

“But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.” 
Psalm 130:4

Despite our sins, there is still hope in the Lord. He is a God of forgiveness. If the Lord were to hold us guilty for our iniquities, we would have been destroyed a long time ago. If we are truly repentant, He will forgive us. Let’s learn to fear Him.

c. Hope In God’s Mercies

“O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is mercy” 
Psalm 130:7

We also hope in a God of great mercy. He was most merciful to the nation of Israel and through Him, there was abundant redemption. If God can be merciful to straying Israel, so much more He would be merciful to us. Let’s increase our hope in God’s mercies.

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