It is good to hope. In fact the Bible says that hope does not disappoint. Whether it’s through fire or through rain, hope is the antidote to cope. When we hope we give ourselves the opportunity to find our way. This is because hope usually leads the way.
As we hope, we should hope right. To hope right is to hope in something or someone that can never fail. Some people put their hope in other people, while some put their hope in things, but true hope is when the thing or person we hope in can never fail.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
As we hope, we should also learn how to trust. This is because hope and trust go hand in hand. Consider that if we do not trust the thing or person we hope in then this hope will not last too long. It is therefore paramount to hope in a person we trust and trust the person we hope in.
The major question we have at this point is “Is the one I hope in reliable?” For us to truly hope then the one we hope in must be trustworthy. But who is worthy? Surely not humans. This does not take away the value of the amazing people we often fellowship with but the truth is that we cannot put our trust in men. This is because men can change like the weather.
Peter said to Jesus in Luke 22: 33, “Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.” Jesus knew that even though Peter might have sounded sincere, He could not put His trust in Peter’s word.
Jesus replied by saying; “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” Sometime later in the scripture Peter denied Jesus 3 times. The lesson here is that we cannot put our trust in men.
Then Who Do We Trust?
The only true person that we can trust is God. Not because of who we are but because of who God is. God is reliable. Because of this, we must learn how to trust in God with all our hearts and not in our own understanding. As we walk with God we might find it hard to trust Him. Yet this is not because God is not trustworthy but because we have not fully come into revelation with the reliability of His counsel. It’s our fault when we do not trust God.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Often it’s after we have made it through the fire and the rain that we learn that we can trust God. Ever so often it’s when we have been hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, and struck down but not destroyed, that we learn that God can be trusted. It is when we have been in the rain that we learn that God will shelter us under the feather of His wings.
Once I was battered with the weight of distress. In this time I learned that the steadfast love of the Lord never stops. In this time I wrote this poem that I want to share with you. It’s a poem about trust and hope through brokenness. I hope that It will bless you. May you also trust God when you don’t understand and rely on His faithfulness even when it doesn’t make sense.
IN YOU
In my drunkenness, I trust in you,
And in my sunkenness, my thrust is You.
You are my shade upon my right hand,
In you I will fall and by You I stand.
In my weariness, my hope is in You,
And in my distress my grope is in You.
You are my strength and my song,
In You I’ll abide all night long
And In my setback, my comeback is in You,
What the cankerworm stole is packed within You.
You are my Jireh when all is lost,
My great Provider you pay my cost.
In my burdensomeness my rest is in You,
There is pain in my nest yet I’m pressed up in You.
Lord where can I run from Your love,
For thought I’m below, In You I’m seated above.
Down on my face I taste grace within You,
Your mercy is everlasting, my place is in You.
My cup runs over with Your oil of goodness,
And in my depravity I taste Your best.
My all is in You, all that I am and will be,
In my sightlessness Lord You remain with me.
And in my distress my best is is You,
When I’m covered by the elements, I rest in You!
Written by: Orlando C. Rowe
Conclusion
As we walk with God we must learn how to trust Him. Sometimes it is when we have gone through the most difficult and impossible situations that we learn that God can be trusted. The important thing is to keep our hope and to never give up.
May God grant you the grace to trust Him and the endurance to make it after all. Be blessed.
