The year of 2006 was a year of change for me, as a seven-teen year old, high school senior. Beyond the typical changes, there was one that crippled me beyond expression of words. Early in the morning, on October 1, 2006, my grandpa and best friend graduated to glory. While I was thankful his suffering was over and threw his testimony knew that we would meet again on Jordan’s bank, it was none the easier knowing I would live the rest of my life without him. Feelings of fear, anger and even doubt toward God flooded my soul. As I read Psalms 42 and 43 tonight, my mind went back to those dark days as we see the Psalmist three times nearly declares the same statement. Notice 42:5 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” We find here a man at his lowest point, filled with fear, doubt, and both physical and mental exhaustion. But, he answers each of these discouragements with a great statement… Hope thou in GOD! No matter the trial or the depth of our pain, we serve a God who can be trusted and has never failed. You may have been let down many times, but there is one who will never fail nor forsake you. Finding your mountain top again will not come by a circumstance change, or some temporary comfort, but rather when you place all your hope and trust in God and believe that He is working all things together for good for every born again child of God.

I am reminded of a story of a grandma who was quilting while her grand boy played under the fabric. After some time, the boy noticed all the mess of the threads and decided to ask. He explained the mess he was seeing and asked if she had messed up, or could see the same knots and chaos. She smiled and said, “No my child, my view is much different than yours.” It was not until the child crawled up in her lap and saw the top side that he realized a masterpiece was being put together just beyond his view. My soul, how true it is that we are limited by what we see and feel, which causes us to feel as if God is making a mess out of our lives. We wonder, does he care how heavy my heart is or does he realize I am about to loose my mind in this trial? But, if we would just take the time to ask His permission to crawl up into Heaven’s throne awhile, we would realize that what looks like a mess from our viewpoint is actually a masterpiece from Heaven’s point of view. No matter where you are at today, or whether you will ever fully understand exactly why certain hardship have come, I want to encourage you to not give up, but rather HOPE in God and allow Him to bring you through. We serve a God who loves you and still can, and will see His children through every step of the journey.

Is your marriage falling apart? .. Hope thou in God!

Do you have a child that’s lost? .. Hope thou in God!

Is your finances not adding up? .. Hope thou in God!

Do you battle with depression? .. Hope thou in God!

Are you wanting to see more out of your ministry? .. Hope thou in God!

No matter the circumstance.. HOPE THOU IN GOD!