Powerless Hope From Generation to Generation.
Psalm 71:1-6
Pray this psalm and let your weakness become a beacon of hope for others.
Psalm 71
1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your ear to me and save me.
3 Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.
5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.
How would we respond if we sat together in a circle and reflect on the challenges we face today? Two Christian aid organizations, World Vision and Samaritan’s Purse, highlight the key issues today:
Natural Disasters and Conflict: Providing aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution is a significant challenge.
Poverty and Economic Inequality: Millions of people worldwide live in extreme poverty, struggling to access basic necessities like food, water, and healthcare.
Global Health Crises: Responding to infectious diseases like COVID-19, Ebola, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, diphtheria, cholera, and measles requires urgent attention.
Refugee Crisis and Migration: The world is facing an unprecedented refugee crisis, with millions of people forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or natural disasters.
Food and Water Insecurity: Providing access to safely managed drinking water and sanitation services and addressing global hunger and malnutrition are critical challenges.
Human Trafficking and Exploitation: Protecting vulnerable individuals, especially women and children, from human trafficking and exploitation is a pressing concern.
Various factors significantly impact distant regions, and their effects are increasingly felt here in the U.S. and other developed countries. The situation can seem overwhelming, and many of us, as individuals and as communities, often feel powerless to make a difference.
The psalmist offers a different perspective. When we are powerless, we can wholeheartedly trust in God and place our hopes in His hands. This trust will strengthen us as we grow older. When we take the time to reflect on God's unwavering faithfulness throughout our lives, we recognize that it’s a legacy we can pass down to future generations. Our worship and discipleship of yielding to God are significant for those who will come after us, shaping their faith for the days ahead.
I can honestly say that when I gave up and gave in to God, stopped striving in my own strength, and acknowledged my own inadequacy, the power turned on. At that moment, I found myself stepping up and doing what was needed. Strange how that works.
Pray this psalm and let your powerlessness become a beacon of hope for others.
In Christ alone,
