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.
Psalm 42:5 (KJV)
As I was walking this morning along the gravel roads rutted from the recent downpours here in Arizona, I was thinking about all the ruts in my own life - those areas of failure, of weakness, of shortcoming. It is easy to become discouraged thinking about these things. Then out of nowhere the word "hope" came to mind. No matter how discouraged I am about myself, in God, there is hope.
As I continued to walk along, I came upon some areas where the ruts had been smoothed out. The big, powerful bulldozer had been there, filling in all the gaps and leveling out the ruts. In my own strength, I am unable to fill in the gaps in my life or to smooth out the road, but as I humbly entrust myself to my powerful God, confessing my shortcomings, asking for his help and trusting him, His spirit comes and does the work. He is able to take those deep areas of need and fill them again with his spirit, his strength and his power.
As I continued to walk along, I came upon some areas where the ruts had been smoothed out. The big, powerful bulldozer had been there, filling in all the gaps and leveling out the ruts. In my own strength, I am unable to fill in the gaps in my life or to smooth out the road, but as I humbly entrust myself to my powerful God, confessing my shortcomings, asking for his help and trusting him, His spirit comes and does the work. He is able to take those deep areas of need and fill them again with his spirit, his strength and his power.
May the God of hope
fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (NIV)
