Psalm 31:24 “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”
How’s your hope tank these days? A little depleted? I think the coronavirus has left us all feeling more vulnerable and less secure than we were when life was normal. When was that? Decades ago? The security we’ve experienced in our health, a stable job, even relationships has been shaken. One woman tweeted she finally got up the nerve to look at her 401K and discovered she can’t retire until she’s 105! Each day offers new opportunities for anxiety. And if there was a certain romance about “hunkering down” it’s wearing thin.
The problem with dwindling hope is that it flashes like a neon sign to the enemy of our souls. I can almost hear Screwtape commanding his nephew, “Go get ‘em while they’re down!” So he creeps into the fog of our confusion and discontent to sow further havoc. Old issues appear seemingly out of nowhere to deliver a gut punch that knocks us off our already unsteady feet.
Make no mistake. Satan wants to use this crisis to infect us with a far greater virus than COVID-19. He wants to strip away our faith and make us immune to hope. We can’t let him.
Bob Goff writes, “Hope doesn’t go to sleep just because it’s dark outside; it lights a candle and stays up waiting for the rest of the story.” Hope recognizes the darkness; in fact, hope that doesn’t disappoint begins with suffering (Romans 5:3-4). Every time we decide to light that candle of hope, Satan’s power withers.
The psalmist admonishes all those who hope in the Lord to be strong and take heart. I can’t think of a timelier message. Although the days might be uncertain, God’s love and faithfulness are not. God is faithful to keep his promises (Heb 10:23). And the power of that hope is strong enough to overcome whatever the enemy hurls our way.
In recent years cities who have experienced terror attacks have adopted phrases like “Boston Strong” or “El Paso Strong” or “Dayton Strong.” The idea behind the slogans indicates the community will end up stronger as they come through the crisis. How about we followers of Christ express the same aspiration during this pandemic. How about we choose to be “Hope Strong.”