What is there to love about God? The Psalms offer many reasons to offer our love and devotion to Him. Today’s answer to this question comes from Psalm 62: 1-7. As you will discover, God offers us something vital to our survival, a spiritual mindset that can face life’s most daunting challenges.

What does God provide when we are in a hard place, lost, directionless, lonely, without the strength to carry on? When life seems meaningless, when what we have spent our strength to achieve does not satisfy, what does He offer to give us a renewed perspective? Hope!

“My soul waits in silence for God only, from Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. 

How long will you assail a man, that you may murder him, all of you? Like a leaning wall, like a tottering fence? They have counseled only to thrust him down from his high position. They delight in falsehood. They bless with their mouth but inwardly they curse.

My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my HOPE is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest. The rock of my strength, my refuge  is in God.”

In these short statements, David uses two words describing who God is to him several times. Who is God to David? He is my Salvation, four times. He is my Rock, used three times. What is David trying to tell us about his dependence on God? David was the king of Israel. He had a mighty fighting machine, great wealth, power, and influence. He was a good man, endowed with a great mind, and physically strong. With all this going for him, he doesn’t rely on himself to deal with his challenges.

Where does David find hope when circumstances feel overwhelming, and seemingly impossible questions face him? His answer is instructive and personally convicting, “My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him.”

Here are some questions I’ve been pondering and some of the answers I’ve been wrestling with.

1 What is hope?

2. Why is hope so important to us?

3. What is the biblical concept of hope?

4. What are my reasons for hope in a crazy world?

1. What is hope?

Merriam-Webster defines it as ” To desire with expectation of fulfillment.”    Or, try this one, “An optimistic state of mind based on the expectation of a positive outcome of the circumstances in one’s life.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope

Both definitions suggest that we want, desire or expect something and have a positive attitude that what we want will happen. What is missing in these definitions? The “why” or “reason” for our hope is missing. What about the situation or character of the person gives us this hope?

Let me illustrate by referencing our current political situation. We are less than a hundred days from electing our next president. I haven’t completely given up hope on our country but I’m certainly very discouraged about how issues such as our border, economy, justice, and military decisions have been handled. 

Here’s my question, “What is there about the record of our current administration that should inspire hope for change in the policies that have caused the mess we are in?”

 There is no evidence to suggest this trend will change any time soon.

2. Why is hope so important?

Hope is an indispensable ingredient of attitude that keeps us growing and moving forward. Hope motivated me as a child to get a good education to overcome obstacles that held back my good but poorly educated parents.

Hope inspires us to faithfully work for the promise of something better, to reach for what may seem impractical or impossible. The hope of heaven, a better world put Abraham on a path of faith that took him from Ur to the Promised Land. The nation of Israel is a testimony to the faithfulness of  God, the fulfillment of the promise made to Abram and his elderly wife Sarai.

Since I’ve brought the Bible into the discussion at this point, let’s look at the next question about hope.

3. What is the biblical concept of hope?

When we put this idea of hope in a biblical or Christian context we add a dimension that is noticeably missing in the secular definitions I used earlier. The biblical concept of hope brings God and his character into the equation. The biblical idea of hope is linked to God’s character, He will keep His word and do what He promises. So, my hope for a favorable outcome in my life circumstances is based on who God is, not on luck, chance, or the alignment of the planets, etc.

Both the Old and New Testaments answer this question the same way. Both testaments tell us that God is the reason or basis for our hope.

God’s mighty deeds regarding the nation of Israel are the basis for Israel’s blessings and hope. God promised Abram in Genesis 12:1-3 that he would make him the father of a great nation. God kept that promise.

God also promised to deliver Israel from slavery in Egypt and settled them in the land he had promised to Abram. Israel often strayed into sin and rebellion but God always kept his word to them.

The greatest promise of all was that of Messiah, which he fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. God has proven himself trustworthy because he always keeps His promises.

Our hope is in the One who raises the “dead, delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us.” 2 Corinthians 1:10.

In Romans 15:13 Paul asserts that God is indeed our hope. ” Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit.” Our relationship with God through faith assures us we will receive the promises God has made to us.

4. What are my reasons for hope in a crazy world? As a believer, there are two major reasons for hope.

First, I serve a Risen Savior! God is not dead. Jesus is alive and all the promises of God are confirmed in his resurrection.

While there are serious battles we must contend with in our brief sojourn on earth, the ultimate victory of Christ is a settled matter.

Times are tough now but there is a better world waiting for us. By the way, it’s the same “city” Abraham looked for as he faithfully followed the call of God in his life. Hebrews 11:10. For more on how the resurrection affects our life see  https://www.cosdavis.com/easter-people-in-a-good-friday-world/ 

Our second reason for hope is the reality of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. The moment we confessed Christ as savior, the Spirit of God came to live within us. The eternal life he has brought into our lives will not be destroyed or diminished by anything this life or death itself can throw at us. 

If you know Jesus as your Savior, you don’t have to wait until you go to heaven for eternal life. The wonderful reality is that you have eternal life right now!  Look at what Paul writes about the Spirit as a pledge or promise God has made to us, “He…sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22. What does this pledge or promise mean to us? It means the God of our hope will keep us and complete the work he has begun in us.

Here’s an old hymn to encourage you to keep putting your hope in Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhVwVHC6_n0

Process what you have just heard and read and smile. Conclusion 

Jesus, the hope of the world, came into a hopeless world. Politics and religion were messed up and power-hungry. Leaders were more concerned with keeping their power than the welfare of the people they were supposed to serve. Sound familiar?

Amid all the personal and national turmoil life may throw at me, I have made a choice. My choice is to pray for all our leaders but to put my hope in Jesus. Politics and “religion” are not the answer to our deepest needs. Jesus lives and will see us through whatever comes.

As I often do, I’m including another resource to expand your thinking about the subject I’m writing about. Here’s one from Billy Graham I think you will find helpful. https://billygrahamlibrary.org/blog-5-things-the-bible-says-about-hope/