Hope In God

“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 42:5 (NIV)




As we walk through life we can’t help but notice certain characteristics about the people we see. Some appear to be sad. Others go through life with a smile pasted on their face but their actions tell another story. A few of them have genuine attitudes of love and well-being.

We wonder what causes so many people to be downcast. We read of people who can no longer face life and its circumstances. They see everything as dark; they bring those around them down. When we listen to them, nothing about the world is good.

At different times in my life, I have known people to take their own life. There has been no connection between these people. They were all young in their twenties or thirties. I believe there was a common thread running through their lives. In each case, the person had lost hope. Do we understand what having no hope is like?

Sometimes everything a person does requires a great effort. When a person doesn’t feels appreciated for their work, they begin to resent certain aspects of their lives.

Do we know how to remedy this lack of hope in ourselves as well as others?



In ourselves:

1.) We can look to the Lord. He is the One to whom what we endeavors really matter.

2.) We can take better care of ourselves. Get more rest. Eat healthier. Exercise on a regular basis.



In others:

1.) We can pray for them. We can check on them to ask how things are going.

2.) We can spend time with them.

3.) We can share Christ with them. If they know Him, you get to have a conversation about what He is doing in each others lives. You could even share prayer requests. If this person doesn’t know Christ, you may be able to give them a new friend.