Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
This word hope—it's a word we use a lot, and I'm not sure we use it in a biblical sense. When we use the word hope, we use it like a wish. "I hope it doesn't rain today," but we're not certain whether or not it will. "I hope my favorite team wins the game," but I don't know whether or not they will. It's "I wish. I hope that this will happen." You understand that is not the biblical hope.
When the Bible uses the word hope, it is regarding the future. It is a feeling regarding the future, but it is a future that is certain. So for the Christian, the future is certain. We know how the story is going to end, but also, and this verse gets to it, today is certain. Maybe not the circumstances of the day—when you've got an idea of how your day is going to go, but it probably isn't going to go that way. But what is certain is that God is your shield. God is your help.
When you think about God being your shield, it means that there are arrows that never hit you. It means there are strikes from a sword that never hit you, and you don't even know it, because God is protecting you. He is your shield.
I remember when our family was in the process of adopting our daughter and we almost lost her. The key word there for me is almost. It was an arrow that didn't hit. It was a sword that didn't strike. Why? Because God protected us. Because God was our shield.
Now, you know, though, that some of the arrows do hit. It's painful, isn't it? And God allows some of those swords to hit. Well, what then? Well, He's not only our shield, but in those times where we're under pain and we're under suffering, we know from this verse that God is our help.
Some of those arrows hit. But remember that God is in control of all of that, and "faithful are the wounds of a friend." Remember that Romans chapter 8 and verse 28: God works all things together, all things, even the difficult things in your life. He works all of them together for your good.
Let me talk specifically to any of you who are listening that feel hopeless today. You feel hopeless and you feel helpless. And I want to say something. I want to say—and I hope you take this the right way—bear with me. It could be worse. It could be worse. You could be lost. But you're not. God has you. Jesus has you in His hand. And He says no one, not even Satan, can snatch you from His hand.
That means He's protecting you. That means that He is a shield about you. It doesn't make what you're going through easier, doesn't make it less difficult. I know it's difficult. I know it's horrible. But Christian, it won't be the end of you. You won't be lost. He's your shield. And even now, He is your great help.
If you're hopeless and helpless, would you talk to your pastor? You know, if you need help finding a church, you can call us. And in the meantime, I want you to remember Psalm chapter 33 and verse 20: "We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield."
