Your Word My Hope

You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.

—Psalm 119:114 NLT

When the struggles of this life overwhelm, Lord, you are my place of safe retreat. When I'm not strong enough to stand, you are the strength that carries me. When I feel vulnerable to the onslaught of those who come against me, you are the shield that protects. You and your Word are my promise of hope in this world. You are your Word.

When the world speaks defeat, you speak victory. When the world speaks death, you speak life. When the world turns its back, you are constant and unchanging. When the world accepts the latest belief, your Word is solid and pure. It inspires the hope I need to reach for you. I can't place my hope in the changing words of world circumstance. My hope would have no meaning. But your Word is Truth, and it is rock-solid and unchanging. What your Word promises, it provides. I can trust in what you impart through your holy Word. I can believe in your faithfulness above all the world's fickleness.

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with you, and you were the Word. Not only did it exist, Lord, but it was and is still your very heart and being! The New Living Translation version of John 1:1-2 speaks of the Word as “He”. Lord, you were the Word in the beginning. You are the Word now. If I want to know you, Lord, I will know your Word. If I want to experience hope, I will make your Word my most intimate friend.  

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Roman 5:3-4 NIV). How do I rejoice in my suffering?  I rejoice when I grow through hardship in perseverance and character and hope. I rejoice when your Word inspires me to discover your promise for my life. Hope does not disappoint—it does not discourage—it does not shame when it is placed in your Word.

Your love has been poured into my heart through the gift of your Holy Spirit, and that love anchors me to believe in your Truth. It is what a volatile world so desperately needs, but cannot grasp without believing in you. Help me, Lord, to live and always hope in your Word.

© 2017 Lynn Lacher