*I   Will   Hope   In   God*  

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.  (Psalm  42:5-6)

Father,

There   are   many   times   when   my  soul   is   cast   down.   My   heart   feels   heavy   when   the   oppressive  circumstances   of   life   weigh   my   soul   down,   like   a   heavy,   immoveable   anchor.   There   are   times  when it   seems   like   the   darkness   will   not   lift   and   the   fog   will not   dispel.   There   are   times when  my  soul  is   in   turmoil,   whipped   about   like   a   wave   on   a   stormy   sea.   There   is   no   peace   or  rest   for   me   when   my   soul   is   in   turmoil.   I   cannot   serve   you   effectively   when   my   life   is   in turmoil.   I   need   your   peace,   your   rest,   your   joy.   Only   you can   give   me   true   peace   in   the   midst  of  trials.    When   I   am   cast   down   and   in   turmoil,   lift   my   eyes   to   you.

When   I   am   pressed   on   every   side,  take   my  eyes   off   of   my   circumstances   and   fix them   on   you.   Take   my   eyes off   of   the   waves   that  are   crashing   around   me,   and   fix   them   firmly   on   you   and   your unchangeable   character.   Keep me  from   steeping   in   the   poison   of   self-‐pity,   and   from wallowing   in   the   pit   of   doubt.   When   my  soul   is   cast down,   I   will   not   let   it   stay   there.   I   will   hope   in   you!   When   my   heart   is   in   turmoil, I  will   not   let   it   stay   there. I will   trust   in   you!   Help   me   to   speak   truth   to   my   soul   instead   of  listening   to   the   lies   of   Satan.   Help   me   to   remember   your   promises   instead   of   allowing   doubt  and dismay   to   fester   in   my   heart.

*I   know   that   I   will   praise   you again.   I   know   that   I   will again   sing   songs   of   joy   and delight   to  you.   I   know   that   the   darkness   will   not   haunt   me   forever.   I   know   that   I   will   not   always   be   cast  down and   in   turmoil.   You   have   been   faithful   to   me   every   step   thus   far,   and you will   continue  to   be   faithful   to   me every   step   that   I   take.*

Lord,   you   are   my   salvation.   I will   not   hope   in   a   set   of   circumstances   I   envision   for   the   future.  I   will   not   hope   in what   I   can   see   or   imagine.   Rather,   I   will   hope   in   you,   and   in   your   salvation.  I   may   not   be   able   to   see   how   you will   deliver   me,   but   I   know   that   you   will   deliver   me.   You have  always  been  my  faithful God,  and  you  will  continue  to be  my  faithful  God.