Today’s Affirmation: My hope is in the Lord. He strengthens my heart.
I am in trouble. My soul and body waste away in grief. I have been forgotten like a dead man.
Have you ever been here? Are you here today? David, in Psalms 31 says all of this before completing Psalm 31:24 where this daily affirmation comes from with these words:
“Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the LORD.”
In good days and in bad, David claims here in Psalms in verse 1: “in You, O Lord I put my trust. He goes on to share days of real pain, hurt, fear, anger, grief. We all have had or will have these days of trouble and grief.
Will we do as David does in verse 5: “Into Your hand I commit my spirit…” Again in verse 7 David says, “You have known my soul in adversities.”
Yes, He has. He knows our pain, our anger, our hurt, our fear, our grief, and our disbelief. Into your hand O Lord I give you these adversities. You know my soul.
We can say just as David did here in Psalms 31:14:
But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.”
Yes, Lord. You are my God. In all things, good and bad. Hang in there. In the Message translation they phrase our verse today in a refreshing way:
Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up.
Expect God to get here soon.
- Can you commit your good and bad spirit into the hand of the Lord?
- Do you try to ignore or hide your grief, fear and hurts? Do you remember God knows your soul during these times as well?
- Do you have a time you can share with others where God came to you and gave you hope?
- Can you find hope and strength in God today?
Do you have any other takes on Psalm 31:24 today? Do you expect God?
Admittedly it is very hard for me at times to find hope when things look so dark around me…that is the very real, practical, human side of me. I have tried to stuff my emotions, ignore them, and at times even succombed to them ~ becomming completely overwhelmed ~ feeling hopeless and lost. I have been in a very troubling season of life now for about two years…..that’s a long time (to me) to live with and in such uncertainty ~ but throughout this time I have seen His sustaining hope, grace and mercy poured out on me over and over again. My faith has been rocked to it’s very core, I have questioned and shouted at Him, but He has never left me! He is BIG enough to handle it all and walk me through it….day by day ~ hour by hour ~ or sometimes even moment by moment! Thank you for this affirmation today. It comes with perfect timing, as I am just coming out of another “dry spell” where I could not feel, see, or hear Him around me. I was succombing to fear again……….. which is NOT a good place to be! I am encouraged once again by the life of David and his continued faith during his trials! Thank you for this dose of hope today!
Cyndy, thank you for your courage to share your soul. I apologize for my delay in responding to your sharing. I am traveling this week on a special business project that has me working without access to internet. I praise God for using all of us to encourage us in the hope we can only find in Him. Just as your honesty here I know God loves for you to share and confess your anger, fear, disappointments and confusion with Him. I pray you do feel His grace and mercy flowing over you now. He is BIG enough for us. I praise the Almighty God that is the same God that David could cry out to in his wildnerness and dark and fearful days. May we be here for each other to help support each other as we go through our own dry spells. Lately, when I feel the fear or doubt or simply don’t feel it I have found that if I just praise Him for being the God He is my load is lifted and I begin to find a feeling of praise. Lord thank You for Your Word and your daughter Cyndy. May you pour out Your Spirit on Her today. In Your Love I pray!!
I have to go to Him tom because I have found out that I can do nothing on my own. It all falls apart.
I can so easily turn to my fears and worry. I am so thankful for His courage when I have none!!
Cyndy…hugs hugs hugs…
Tom, I’ve finally learned to lean into my pain as opposed to stuffing it or denying it. I used to be afraid I’d just die if I allowed myself to really feel pain…turns out God is more present in pain than ever.
And I’m with Bill, every day I have to go to Him, I can’t do anything on my own either.
(But boy that takes the pressure off.)
Thanks Robin! I too carry pain and anxiety too far on my own shoulders! I am sure God looks at me in bewilderment at times. “Aren’t you the same guy who cried out to me this morning? Give Me your worries my dear child.” When I FINALLY say ok it is in God’s hands the weight lifts from my shoulders. It feels soooo physical. I love “lean into my pain”…thank you!