Hope in God…
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Ezekiel 17 and Psalm 146 (NIV)
(Ruth Tan, SGM APCZL)
READ:
Psalm 146 (NIV)
The verses that stood out to me were:
2I will praise the Lord as long as I live.
I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.
3Don’t put your confidence in powerful people;
there is no help for you there.
5But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.
OBSERVE:
It’s easy to praise the Lord when life is smooth, but how do I lift my voice in worship when my heart is heavy? When a friend’s life is nearing the end due to a terminal illness, when another struggles with suicidal thoughts, when feeling exhausted from caring for aging parents with health issues, when business and financial challenges weigh down, or when the children are far away from God, it can be incredibly difficult to find reasons to rejoice.
APPLY:
The Bible offers us powerful examples of faithful giants like David, Job, Elijah and many more. These individuals faced immense struggles and received little help from their friends, yet they turned to God. Their stories remind us that even in the darkest times, we can choose to be still with the Lord and surrender our burdens to Him.
God is sovereign and capable of doing immeasurably more than any human being. Trusting and waiting on Him will bring a profound sense of peace, hope, and joy, even amidst life’s trials.
God has promised that He will never abandon us. We will never have to face struggles alone. We are never alone because our loving Father God is always with us, caring for us and offering us hope in Him.
“The more desperate things seem, the more must we hope in God. When man’s aid fails, God’s is close at hand.” – Saint Ignatius of Loyola
DO:
I will choose to be in the Lord’s presence daily, entrusting Him with all my burdens. I will hold onto the assurance that He is in control, drawing strength, peace, and joy from Him. I will be joyful in hope, no matter what the circumstances may be. I will trust Him and not lean on my own understanding, I will continually praise His name, focusing on His goodness and faithfulness.
PRAY:
Dear Father God,
Thank You for Your compassionate heart. Thank You for walking with and guiding mealways. Teach me to continue singing praises to You, honouring Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
