Hope In God

by Pastor Mark
January 05, 2023

 

Facing the challenges of 2023

At Down Memory Lane 2022, we learnt about finding hope in God as we face a difficult future. Climate disasters are causing havoc all over the world. Many nations face an economic downturn due to inflationary pressures and higher interest rates. Singapore has not been spared as recession looms, businesses suffer and job losses threaten. It is easy to turn pessimistic as we experience the anxiety and distress of an uncertain future.

The distresses of life

1. The sons of Korah, who were Levites, wrote a psalm to express their feelings about facing the distresses of life.

  1. Dryness of soul as they were spiritually thirsty (Psalm 42:2).
  2. The soul was feeling cast down (Psalm 42:5).
  3. Internally, their soul was disquieted (Psalm 42:5).

2. Feeling of severe distress

  1. When tears came day and night, it is an indication that they were not coping well (Psalm 42:3).
  2. They felt that God had forgotten them (Psalm 42:9).
  3. They felt mournful as enemies taunted and reproached them (Psalm 42:9).

The distresses of life can cause us to become depressive in our thinking and spirit.

Hope in God through the challenges of life

1. What hope is not

  1. Hope is not just feeling optimistic.
  2. It is not just being positive in our outlook of life.

2. What hope is

  1. It is making reference to God (Psalm 42:5).
    1. Our hope is in God and nothing else.
    2. The focus of our hope must always be a reference to God .
  2. Returning to God
    1. When we do not make reference to God but seek to face things our way, we end up spiritually dry and weary as we cannot overcome our distresses.
    2. There is a deep spiritual need for us to return to God and make reference to Him again.
  3. The reality of hope (Psalm 42:5,11)
    1. We find real hope when we believe that God’s countenance will shine upon us.
    2. The countenance of the Lord is a reference to His face.
    3. When we humbly return to the Lord, His countenance will shine upon us again.
    4. His countenance will help us overcome our feelings of being cast down and disquieted.
    5. The reality of this hope is experienced when our countenance has changed.
    6. The Psalmist changed from writing “For the help of His countenance” to “the help of my countenance and my God”.
    7. His countenance had been changed by the countenance of God.
    8. This is what real hope does as our countenance is transformed to reflect joy and strength.
    9. We have a new and strong perspective of life that helps us overcome our feelings of being cast down and disquieted.

As we face the difficulties of 2023, let us be stirred to have real hope in God and God alone.

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