Articles > About God: > The Source of Our Hope

The Source of Our Hope

“I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever.
² I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever.
³ Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.

⁴ Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.
⁵ I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles.
⁶ Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness.
⁷ Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness.

⁸ The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
⁹ The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.
¹⁰ All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you.
¹¹ They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power.
¹² They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign.
¹³ For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.

¹⁴ The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it.
¹⁶ When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
¹⁷ The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness.
¹⁸ The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them.
²⁰ The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked.

²¹ I will praise the Lord, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever.”¹

There are days where I look around and feel a bit discouraged by what I see. It is evident that we live in a broken world and are suffering the consequences of sin. A friend of ACTS sent me a prayer request the other day for a family whose one-month old baby boy just passed away. He had health complications at birth, received surgery, but ultimately the Lord decided to take him home. At times like this, it is easy to start questioning the Lord’s plan. It is then that he reminds us through His Word of His goodness, compassion, mercy, and faithfulness. King David depicts the nature of God so beautifully in this Psalm. We may not understand the “why” behind many things, but we can be confident that the Lord is righteous in all he does, and he is filled with kindness. He is a protector to all who love Him. It is the Lord who is the source of our hope and we can trust Him always.

Suggested prayer: Dear God, help me trust your faithfulness and goodness even when things hurt. You are the source of my hope. In a world of darkness, pain, and loss, allow me to shine bright for you, and in so doing, help others experience the peace found only in you. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

1. Psalm 145 (NLT).

Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B.