Psalm 16:8-9  “I have set the Lord always before me’ Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.”

Finding hope these days may seem like an insurmountable task if you are just looking around or if you are watching the news.  The world is truly upside down and backward on every level.  So many people are full of anger and hopelessness because they need Jesus.  This virus is wicked and unpredictable which is causing a lot of people to live in fear.  We just lost a dear friend in the hospital with it the other day and Abby and I are fighting the crazy virus now, so I totally understand the craziness of this unpredictable virus.  But you know what is predictable?  The faithfulness of God!  Our lives are always in His hands whether or not there is a virus out there.  Yes, be careful and eat healthful foods, but God is still on His throne and He is still in control.  We don’t understand why some people seem to die untimely deaths to us, but God knows the big picture and you never know what terrible things he may be saving that person from by taking them when He does.  We have to trust Him especially when we really don’t understand.  

So where do you find hope?  Just like the Psalmist, you find your hope in keeping the Lord before you.  Make Him your focus, not the news, not the virus, not the storm raging in your life ~ Him!  Play praise and worship music!  Spend time in prayer.  Fill your heart and mind with the Word of God.  Be careful what you are reading and watching on tv.  Get intentional about where your focus is and you will find that your faith and hope will grow!  God sees you and He loves you more than words can say!  He wants to walk closely with you and He wants to fill you with His hope and joy!  He wants to give you everything you need to shine as His light in this dark, crazy world!  Living in fear and hopelessness will not make your situation better, if anything it will make it worse!  Choose today to focus on God.  Ask Him to guide you in all that you do!  Take the common-sense measures to protect yourself and those you love and then trust God to do the rest.  Write down Jeremiah 29:11-13 and carry it with you:  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”  Look for other verses that encourage you and write them down too and carry them with you to remind yourself that you have hope and it is found in Him!  Ask God to help you trust Him and seek Him knowing that truly His best is yet to come!

Quote:  “Hope never dies where faith is strong, and faith grows strong in the presence of hope.”  ~ Chad Witmeyer