Hollow Hope

 “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of Hermon, From the Hill Mizar.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭42:5-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬


The scriptural admonition for believers to rejoice in hope is always a perfect medicine for the troubled souls. Whereas it is more desirable for the heart to receive in hope than to rejoice in hope, the focus on receiving is in the change of circumstances while the focus on rejoicing is fixed on the Unchangeable God. Like in the experience of the psalmist, when the soul is cast down and disquieted, it is time to switch from hollow hope to hope in God. It is a switch to focus more on the purpose of God for every situation and circumstance that a believer finds himself. Even while the prevailing situation is discouraging, believers are confident that God’s revealed thoughts of goodness and the final reward of great expected ending is unchanging, just as our unchangeable God. After all, the heart that is focussed on God will remember His grace and glory more than his own physical benefits.

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