February 23, 2009 (Monday)
On December 17, 1927, near Provincetown, Massachusetts, a U.S. Navy submarine was accidentally rammed by a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, sinking the sub. No one was rescued from the sub, but at one point while a few men were still alive inside it, they tapped a message in Morse Code on the hull, “I-s t-h-e-r-e a-n-y h-o-p-e?” Many are asking that question today. Psalm 42 gives us some guidance.
We are tempted to lose hope when troubling times come. Job was a wealthy and happy man until many tragedies struck him and his family. After an extended period of suffering, his hope became a little shaky. He eventually regained it, but not without struggle. Unexpected things happen to us, and stress mounts. Under such pressure, we may wonder why we feel that our faith and hope are beginning to fail, and we may ask, “Where is God?”
We can talk with God about our true feelings. We can be honest with Him when we pray. He knows our hearts anyway. We need to get the words out in front of us so we can see what we are really thinking. Psalm 42:9-10 are honest words: “Why have you forgotten me?” Let us remember also that we can join the Psalmist in reviewing our blessings. There have been better times in our lives (Psalm 42:4). As the hymn exhorts, “Count your many blessings. Name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.”
We can trust the Lord for the future. He will keep every promise He has ever made to us. He will suddenly surprise us with better things than we may be seeing today. We will someday understand the “why” of our sufferings, even if we have to wait until we get to Heaven.
No great servant of God has ever had a life of ease. Every one has known disappointment and pain, but all have been willing to persevere because they have loved God. He is our Hope. Hope in God!
Psalm 42