Word For Wednesday: Hope

I’ve been reading through the Psalms, and am nearly halfway through Psalm 119. Today’s reading included this section:

Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life. I am Yours; save me. Psalm 119:92-94

I considered that verse a lot this morning- “I would then have perished in my affliction.” No one goes through this life without suffering- be it suffering at the hand of someone or something else, by one’s own decisions, or just by living life in this world. But not everyone has hope through suffering. I’ve been through some really tough times in my life; even my faith was born out of persecution. But I agree with the psalm: Unless Your law had been my delight, I would have perished. There is something about believing in Christ, and about trusting in His message, that gives hope in even the most dismal circumstances. This is much more than my personal opinion and experience- this is historically true for millions upon millions of people from every age.

People can hope in anything– in the thrill of the birth of a baby or the thrill of buying a new micro sd… But hope that lasts– hope that will endure hardship and that gives life– comes from God and His word. God and His love doesn’t fade away, like the temporal thrils of this life do.

I’ve been around the block in this world. Like Aretha Franklin said, “I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor. Rich is better.”

Rich is definitely better– the riches that last forever– eternal life through Christ. The flashy things of life may give me a brief thrill and lend a momentary escape from suffering, but it is hope in God that sustains me.

How did your Word for Wednesday go?