Compiled by: Georgeanne Falstrom, Intern
PARISH LAY MINISTRY ACADEMY
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Wednesday, March 29, 2006
(Daily readings: Ps 101, 109; Gen 50:15-26; 1 Cor 12:1-11; Mark 8, 11-26)


GOT HOPE?
By: Mary Keller

Scripture: Help me, O Lord my God; save me in accordance with your love.
Psalm 109:26


Do you ever feel hopeless? At the end of your rope? Thinking about giving up?

I think we’ve all been there at one point or another. Times when relationships, schedules or the grinds of everyday life seem to be more than we can handle.

Where is God in all this, we wonder? Where is God???

In the Bible, David experienced despair and defeat too. What did he do? Did he give up? No, he called on the Lord. In Psalm 101, verses 21-31, David expresses his true feelings of hopelessness and despair. Then, he does something else. He calls on the Lord to deliver him. In verse 26, he calls out “Help me, O Lord my God; save me in accordance with your love.” Wow! It’s like David knew God would save him! In the next verse, he gives all credit to God saying “Let them know that it is your hand, that you, O Lord, have done it.”

Is there a lesson in this for us? I think so. When life is getting us down, God is always there. We can tell him our honest feelings and ask for his deliverance, just like David did. We know that he’s listening and loves us; we can find comfort in that. God is with us and will get us through this roller coaster called life. This is HOPE for us all! And when he does deliver us from our difficult time, we give him the credit…not ourselves, but God.

As long as there is God, there is hope. Hope does come to us. Verse 31 is a powerful reminder: “For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him.”

So…got hope? As Christians, our answer is a resounding “YES!”

Prayer: Dear Lord, Thank you for giving us hope. Hear our cries and deliver us with your love. And we will give you all the honor and glory. Amen