HOPE IN THE LORD FOR HELP (2)

“My soul, WAIT silently for GOD ALONE, for my EXPECTATION is from Him” – Psalm 62:5

Faith is born and thrives when we exclusively HOPE in the LORD for HELP: “My soul, WAIT silently for GOD ALONE, for my EXPECTATION is from Him” (Psa.62:5). David in this Psalm, models the transition from devastating Desperation to positive Expectation. He had traversed many discouraging episodes and desolate seasons, living much of his adult life with the threat of death looming like a shadow over him. For years he lived as a fugitive, fleeing King Saul’s paranoia, while leading armies against hostile enemy nations. Worst of all, he lived with the anguish of watching trusted friends, and even a son, turn into treacherous foes who conspired against his life (Psa.55:13-14; 2Sam.15:10).

Right from his youth, David had made the Lord his Trust: “Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust” (Psa.40:4a). However, desperation brought him to where God became his only real Hope for Help. This is not unusual with us human beings. External circumstances or internal crisis often force us into a place where other options of comfort and hope are removed or fail us. In such moments of acute vulnerability, we usually long and plead with God for escape. But it is in such seasons that Hope is awakened and enduring Faith is forged.

Despite sounding negative, desperation can teach us to trust God. Amidst his desperate experiences, David felt “like a leaning wall and tottering fence” (v.3). He felt fragile, weak, and helpless; like an old stone wall, bowing out and ready to crumble. It’s all part of the process of learning to make God our only trust. The TESTS of our faith often feel momentarily like THREATS to our faith – as if we’ll topple over and crumble. God allowed trials to compel David to make the Lord his one Trust, Rock, and Source of Salvation. The moment he told his soul to remember God as Source of his Hope, his desperation changed to positive expectation: “For my expectation is from Him” (v.5b).

David reminded his fragile and troubled soul: “HE ONLY is MY rock and MY salvation; He is MY defense; I shall not be moved” (v.6). Hope in God is founded on His promises, which become our platforms of Help and Refuge, the fortress we flee to when fear threatens: “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You” (Psa.56:3). When Hope is threatened, and we sway on the verge of collapse, we only need to turn from looking at the threat to look at God as personal Source of Hope: In God is MY salvation and MY glory; the rock of MY strength, and MY refuge, is in God” (v.7). Trials train us to trust in God: “Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (v.8).

Living Hope comes from God manifesting as our ever-present and trusted Help, Defence, Eternal Rock and Refuge!