Pause
Many of the psalmists prayed for God’s deliverance and for comfort in times of desperation and despair. One verse that comes to mind is found in Psalm 42:11. It’s not certain who wrote this Psalm but some commentators say it was David either during Saul’s persecution or Absalom’s rebellion.

The psalm nearly mirrors Psalm 63, when it begins with this: “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.” Throughout the psalm, David acknowledges God’s lovingkindness, that it is “better than life, my lips shall praise thee”. Similar to Psalm 42 - for the psalmist, God is His comfort, His rock (verse 9).
And even though the question arose, “Why art thou cast down, O My soul?”, again and again they were answered. He encouraged himself to trust in God and to place his whole being in God’s hands.
During a season in my life, I used to plaster ‘positive affirmations’ around my room and put them as screensavers on my phone, computer etc. I even bought a book with Buddha quotes about peace, thinking that would aid my days ‘in the valleys’. How blind was I? Praise God, He opened them to the glorious light and hope that is found in Him.
You see, we can quote good sayings over and over, in vain repetition. But if there is a solid foundation that these thoughts are based on, it allows us to praise God on the mountain tops AND in the valleys. God promises many things in His Word, and He never goes back on His promises, or His children.
We have that assured hope because He is “my portion…therefore will I hope in Him” (Lamentations 3:24). If we wait expectedly on Him, He will reveal His glorious will to us. The psalmist also said, “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:24).
When we put our trust in Him, we aren’t just doing it for our selves. We are doing it to be a servant to God. It isn’t a bypass ticket on the ‘easy life’ train. It is an absolute, unchanging, eternal promise for those who hope in Him, to let your heart be encouraged, stirred, revitalised during that waiting period, constantly leaning on the One who is our Rock and Redeemer.
Praise

1
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
Chorus:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.
2
When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace;
in every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.
Chorus:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.
3
His oath, his covenant, his blood, support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay.
Chorus:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.
4
When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found:
dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.
Chorus:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.
Prayer

Dear God,
I thank you that You gave Your only begotten Son to save a wretch like me. Christ is my solid Rock, unmoving, unchanging, eternal.
Thank you for the hope you have given me, to be able to journey with the Saviour in all circumstances is a comfort to my soul.
Please instil this in my heart and mind, engrave these verses so that if someone asks me of the hope that is within me, I can point them to my Redeemer.
Hallelujah, He lives within my soul.
Amen

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