Where Is Your Hope?

Turn on the television news and you'll be inundated with views, opinions and reports about the plunge of the stock market and the latest polls in the presidential election. A co-worker asked me yesterday if I was worried about my 401-K. And although I've been following the presidential debates like most Americans and am concerned with how it could it could turn out, I'm not worried about the outcome.

As I was bathing Lilly Faith last night, Will pulled up a chair to the counter next to the kitchen sink. "Can we sing our songs, mom?" he asked. "Sure," I told him and we proceeded to sing one of the songs he sings at church: Our God is a great big God. Our God is a great big God. Our God is a great big God and He holds us in his hands.

David was going through deep anguish, emotional pain and worry. He shared some of his feelings in Psalm 77:11-12, "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds." David knew the only way he could give thanks in his toughest circumstances was to focus on God and not on what was happening all around him. When we remember who God is and what He has done for us in the past, we can't help but join David in songs of thankfulness.

As Americans, are we putting our hope in the recovery of the stock market and our retirement funds? One of the presidential candidates mentions the word hope quite often. So are we as Americans putting all of our hope in a presidential candidate? I remember the words in that old hymn, My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness!

Instead of worrying about how much I've lost in my retirement account or who our president will be, I'll thank God that He holds His children in His hands. That hope is all we need because He is a great BIG God!