Have you ever had to give yourself a pep talk? Maybe you were facing a Monday morning with a week ahead that was so much more than you could handle; or maybe it was much more than that, maybe you found yourself in a deep darkness from which you had no hope of recovery.

David found himself in this situation, his heart within him was overwhelmed, seeing no hope in sight. He had to remind himself of the source of his hope.

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” Psalm 42:5

And then again . . ,

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Psalm 42:11

And yet again . . .

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Psalm 43:5

Three times we find David in the same place of discouragement reminding himself that his hope was not within himself, but it was in God. When we look for hope within us or within the world around us things can look hopeless; but like David we need to keep our eyes on the one who gives us hope. We need to return to the Holy Word where our hope is found in God.

“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” Psalm 119:114

“I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.” Psalm 130:5

He is our hiding place when things around us are frightening. He is our shield when things are coming at us faster than we can respond. In His word we can find the hope that is the answer for every situation we might face, we need only to be reminded.

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.” Lamentations 3:21-24

Everything we are, everything we need, it all comes from Him. In compassion and mercy, He is faithful to be our source of hope.

“Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope” Acts 2:26