FINDING HOPE IN THE PSALMS

by Christine Cotroneo

“Why are you in despair, oh my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.” (Psalm 43:5)

During this particular season of life, I have been finding a lot of comfort in the Psalms. As someone who struggles with recurring illness, it’s hard to accept the times when again I’m not feeling well. This year has brought me new health challenges, and in the midst of my valley, I decided to turn the Psalms into my prayers. They speak to the Lord just about every emotion one can experience when going through some distressing situation. Many of them begin with emotional laments, which leads to remembering God’s character and faithfulness and then ending with praising His name. As we take a closer look at this pattern of prayer - problem, remembrance, praise - I think we can be greatly encouraged.

We have all experienced trials in this life, more than we would like to have experienced. They often cause fear and uncertainty, as well as doubt and discouragement, as the enemy uses the opportunity to move in with his lies. My most recent battle brought with it a level of anxiety I didn’t think I could know, and at first, was afraid to admit! But it caused me to cling all the more tightly to my Savior, and to reach out to others God had placed in my life to speak His truth, and to see me through to the other side. As children of God, it’s comforting to know that our trials, as painful as they may be, are not without purpose. Each new valley is an opportunity to go deeper in our relationship with God, and to allow Him to do His refining work (1 Peter 1:7). While it’s not always easy, we can walk through the storms by faith crying out to the one who is a very present help in our times of trouble (2 Corinthians 5:7, Psalm 46:1). He promises to be the strength in our weakness, and that our suffering produces in us perseverance, character, and hope (2 Corinthians 12:7, Romans 5:3-5). There is also comfort in knowing that nothing comes our way that has not first been filtered through God’s sovereign hands, as He causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

As I cried out to the Lord day after day for His help and healing, I struggled with placing too much focus on my circumstances. Initially, I hadn’t moved from my problem to a place of remembrance, as the Psalmists did. There is certainly no encouragement to be found in dwelling on all that is wrong, instead of all that is right and true. Even the Israelites were commanded throughout scripture to remember the Lord and the wonders and marvelous works He had done (Deuteronomy 6:12, 1 Chronicles 16:12, Psalm 105:5). When I looked back through my journals and read about God’s hand of comfort, provision, and deliverance in all of my previous battles, it gave me a renewed sense of hope that the same God who helped me then would once again see me through the fire. It’s amazing how when we look back, we see His hand at work speaking through His word and other people.

I don’t know why, but I’m always blown away when devotionals I read, or sermons I hear, speak right into my situation. These times of encouragement and refreshment for our souls are provided by Him for the very moment He knew we would need them. Every trial we endure results in a testimony we can share as to how the Lord got us through them. It not only encourages others, but also us, and it brings glory to God as we point to Him as our victory.

Remembering His faithfulness inevitably leads to praise and thanksgiving! Our circumstances may not have changed, but our outlook and attitude do when our focus is on Him. The Psalmists knew that God would come through as He always had before. They put their faith in His trustworthiness, and we can too. As we focus on the Lord, our doubts turn into faith, fears turn into courage, and uncertainty turns into the unshakable assurance of His unchanging character.

Maybe you’re going through a trial right now, whether it’s an illness, financial, job-related, or something else, and it’s bringing you down. I pray this encourages you to dive into the Psalms and to put your hope in God! During this season of thanksgiving that is upon us, remember His faithfulness in the past and believe He will be faithful again to carry you through. Because of Jesus, we can walk in victory above our circumstances as He walks with us through them. Even Peter could walk on water when he kept his focus on the Lord (Matthew 14:28-31). May we always look up to the Lord, knowing that is where our true help and hope comes from, and to always remember His faithfulness and praise His Holy name!

Christine lives in Upstate, NY with her husband, Ryan, and is a pet-mom to their rescued cats, dog, and ducks. She is the owner of Living Word Decor, an online shop where she creates hand-painted wooden signs with Bible verses. When she’s not painting, she loves to go for walks and to spend time in the word of God. www.LivingWordDecor. com