stephen R Harrison

“Our Trustworthy Hope”

“I trust in you…no one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame.”

-Psalm 25:2a, 3a

As I met with a couple recently struggling in their marriage, I said, “I believe hope is a word you guys need to cling to this year – and Jesus is that hope”. Hope is a misunderstood word. It’s used in uncertainty most often these days. “Don’t get your hopes up”. “I hope so”. But Jesus is our blessed hope (Titus 2:13). Lent drives us to this kind of hope – “the hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2) that “does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5). Now that’s true hope!

In Psalm 25, David began, “In you, Lord my God, I put my trust” (v. 1). What a statement of hope. He used the phrase “put to shame” (2-3) to indicate the disappointment often encountered when trusting the wrong things. We are frequently “let down’ in this fallen world, even by the best of people. We place our hope and trust in others, believing they will fulfill their promises. Often, they do. Sometimes, they do not. “Put to shame” can also be translated as “humiliated”. It conveys the message, “How foolish of you to trust in them/that – you’ve been humiliated!”. 

The devil, others, and often our thoughts can tell us, “Don’t put your trust in the Lord. He will let you down.” However, David reminds us God is our trustworthy hope. Peter also conveys this in the New Testament. 1 Peter 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”. Jesus is our living hope! He is trustworthy! Christianity isn’t belief in a dead man, but an alive one! Jesus resurrected! We can set our hope on the grace brought to us by Jesus’ Second Coming (1 Peter 1:13). Our faith and hope are in God who raised Jesus from the dead (1 Peter 1:21). We can answer all who ask for a reason for this hope in us (1 Peter 3:15). 

David knew where his hope came from. He could never be humiliated because God didn’t come through. For those who dealt treacherously with others, shame was certain (Psalm 25:3). There’s a tremendous difference between shame and hope. Shame can have a paralyzing effect on the soul. It can rob you of every ounce of hope. The shame of our past can color our thoughts, conversations, and actions. The opposite is also true. The hope of Christ can transform every thought, conversation, and action. We can live a life of hope and trust over shame and condemnation. During Lent, allow the hope brought by Jesus’ resurrection to flood your soul with peace and purge it of every shackle of shame.  

Questions: 

Where have shame and hope resided in your life?

Which has been more prevalent?

Can you confidently say, “In you, Lord my God, I put my trust”?

Prayer:

Jesus, you are my blessed hope. I trust you completely. Help me overcome any shame that attempts to rob me of your hope. Don’t let me be put to shame. You never disappoint. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Read: 

Psalm 25:1-3

Action Step:

Make a list of things you have placed your hope and trust in. How have they disappointed you? How many Scriptures about hope can you list?