And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in You. Psalm 39:7

“Only hope” is something we say when things are bad. It means that when it comes to solutions, there aren’t many! It might even mean that we’ve tried other things and they’ve failed, and so now we’re down to one idea that might hopefully…possibly work. The phrase, “my only hope” carries with it the idea that all will be lost if this doesn’t at least put a bandaid on the situation. Some would call it a “last ditch effort”.  You kind of get the idea that even this “only hope” is hanging by the last thread of a rotted string!

Yet the phrase “My only hope” conveys a whole different meaning when that Hope is God. After all, the people whose hope is God are blessed people!

“How blessed is the one whose helper is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God…” (Psalm 146:5)

When our hope is in the Lord, it isn’t a fleeting vapor. Hope in God isn’t a passive wish. It’s throwing your trust onto the One who is a sure foundation. Hope is all about who or what your are trusting.

Psalm 20:7 says “Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we depend on the LORD our God.”

Pharaoh’s army trusted in their chariots and horses to give them victory over God’s people. They drowned in the Red Sea!

When facing the giant, David said “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel…” 1Samuel 17:45

Goliath trusted in his gigantic sword, spear, javelin, and no doubt, his size. His head got chopped off!

God is our hope. Unlike Pharaoh’s army and Goliath, we don’t put our trust in anything that we can hold in our hands (swords, spears, etc.) or ride on (horses, chariots). Our hope is in the One who holds the universe in His hands and who rides on the clouds!

Remember the wedding in Cana where the wine had run out? There was only one hope, but that hope was Jesus, and He was all the hope that was needed. His miraculous power took what the servants could offer…mere water…and made it wine. Not just ordinary wine. Not wine that could simply suffice. Rather, He made delicious, perfectly amazing wine that was the best! Yes, their only hope was Jesus, but what a hope He was!

Father God, thank You for blessing us, the sons and daughters who have put their hope in You. You are our first hope and our last hope. Truly You are our only hope, but what an amazing hope that is! We trust You, and know that our hope is in the One who is all sufficient. How we love you!

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit… Rom 15:13