Waterfalls of Hope

Deep calls to deep
at the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your waves
have gone over me.
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
Psalm 42:7-8 (ESV)

Waterfalls of Hope

I don’t know about you, but for me this has been a rough week. My son who broke his leg has had a bad cold. The students where I teach part-time music were uncharacteristically rowdy and difficult in class.

Ouch!

My coughing fits were so violent that I either severely sprained the muscles around my ribs or cracked a rib so even breathing was painful. Coughing, laughing, or sneezing was excruciating. Don’t even ask about when I got the hiccups on Tuesday night – ouch!

Overwhelmed

All week I felt like I couldn’t catch up with my to-do list. I hate it when I feel overwhelmed with things to get done and am completely convinced that it is impossible to accomplish it all.

Hope in God

It seems like one day after another I was down. That’s why Psalm 42:5 really leaps out at me,

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

Why am I so down?

Yes, there have been problems this week, but I know that my “problems” are nowhere near the difficulties and tragedies that others are experiencing. Even more than that, what right do I have to wallow in self-pity with such a great God?

Waterfalls of Hope

As I continued to read over this chapter, verses 7 and 8 were a balm for my spirit. God hears the cry of my heart. Deep inside my soul, in the innermost parts of me, I have been seeking His comfort without even thinking.

Deep calls to deep…

Waves and waterfalls of God’s love come crashing over me. Refreshing me. Restoring me. Lifting up my downcast soul.

“By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me,”

During the day when I am struggling at home or at school. In the night when I am coughing or not sleeping because of pain.

He is right there. His love is washing over me if I will only turn to Him.

Do I turn to Him?

More often I just try to handle things myself, worrying and growing more overwhelmed when all the time Hope is there. Right there. Waiting to overwhelm me with His love and carry my worries for me.

Hope in the form of an almighty God. Hope in the form of God who calls Himself Love.

Breathtaking Waves of Love

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8 (ESV)

Imagine. An infinite God yields an infinite love. Like Niagara Falls, roaring, breath-taking waves of love that can wash away our worries and the weight of our troubles if we will only turn to Him in the midst of our struggles.

Mind-boggling love

Over 3,160 tons of water flows over Niagara Falls every single second. That is a staggering amount. Those hundreds of thousands of mind-boggling gallons of water are still nothing compared to the infinite love of our God. That is where our hope belongs.

Hope Himself

Today, let’s turn to Hope Himself. Place our trust in Him and let His love flood over us.

Action Step:

Make a photo of a waterfall your desktop picture on your computer, phone, or tablet to remind you throughout the day that in the midst of trouble, our God is a constant flowing source of love and hope, more than able to encompass all our difficulties if we will just turn to Him.

Prayer:

God, we all have struggles and problems. Help us in our difficulties to turn to You rather than try to carry it on our own. Help us to feel the flood of your love and let go of our worries. Help us to trust You and place our hope in you. In Jesus’ name, amen.