HOPE IN GOD’S WORDS

“My soul faints for Your salvation, but I HOPE IN YOUR WORD” – Psalm 119:81

This world we are in could cause one’s soul to faint, except we HOPE IN GOD’S WORDS: “My soul faints for Your salvation, but I HOPE IN YOUR WORD” (Psa.119:81). Our Lord Jesus Christ prophesied of the end-times, characterised by “Men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heaven will be shaken” (Lk.21:26). While encouraging Believers to place hope in God, the Lord said: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jh.16:33). The world comes with a barrage of troubles, but we can stay sane through Hope in God’s Word!

Here, the psalmist cried out for God to rescue him from his foes. They had tried to trap him and to persecute him without cause. On the brink of crisis and despair, he cried out “like a wineskin in smoke” (v.83). Normally wineskins are soft and flexible, but long exposure to smoke makes them brittle. From abuse, the psalmist felt he was about to crack! Pounding on heaven’s door, he cried out: “Where are you, God? When will you comfort me? How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors? Rescue me from these troubles, now!” (vv.84-86). It seemed God was silent! But in that season of seeming silence, Hope surfaced: “They almost made an end of me on earth; but I did not forsake Your precepts” (v.87).

Rather than reject God or turn away from Him, the ­trials stoked the psalmist’s passion for God and for growing closer to God by meditating on His Word. It’s in the Word that he found assurance of unfailing love, which made him want to please God by living an obedient life: “Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth” (v.88). Though the troubles we face may or may not be as challenging as the psalmist’s, we all experience waiting for God. And while we wait – resting on His ­promises – we have an opportunity to grow in following and serving the Lord. In His time, God will answer. The Big Question is: Will we consistently seek Him through His Word and continue to obey while we wait?

Whatever may be the challenge, dilemma or problem in life, fainting should not be the Believer’s portion. There is absolutely no reason for us to faint or lose heart. According to our Lord Jesus Christ, Prayer is the chief antidote against fainting: “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to PRAY and not lose heart” (Pro.18:1). Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and NOT FAINT.” Paul, the apostle said concerning ministry: “Therefore, since we have received this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart” (2Cor.4:1). God’s Mercy delivers from fainting or losing heart!

Beloved, is your soul fainting? Is your faith fainting? Are you losing heart? Sometimes our faith faints from sheer exhaustion, even the exhaustion of religious duties! Service to God, without communion with Christ, leads to spiritual fatigue. What we need is to rest in the continual call of Christ; allowing life’s pace to be governed by grace. Fainting also comes from the pressures of the world, the push and pull of sin, and incessant attacks of the enemy. The world parches our souls, but heaven hydrates our hearts. Our faith will flourish and not faint as we take the time to quench our thirsty soul: “For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters” (Rev.7:17a). Settling our hearts on God's settled Word cancels any cause for fainting: “For ever, O LORD, Your Word is settled in heaven” (v.89).