Down, Not Out
Down, Not Out
You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts up my head. (Ps. 3:3)
So Close
Some days it seemed as if the opportunity Jim had been seeking was right there for the taking. The project he’d been working on was finally—finally—going to pay off. He had worked at it for so long and so hard, he felt certain something good was bound to happen eventually, probably soon. That was how he thought on a good day.
Then there were the days when nothing seemed to go right. Thoughts of despair bombarded his mind: This is never going to work. What was I thinking? How could I have possibly imagined this was going to succeed? Every defeat left Jim feeling all the more discouraged. With each closed door, he felt absolutely useless.
The Shield
Millions of people face disappointment on an almost daily basis. They have a hard time believing things will ever get better. And yet unshakable hope is available to everyone who believes God is at work and good things are coming.
Take another look at today’s Scripture. What images does it stir up? The Lord is your shield—He protects you when you’re vulnerable. He is your glory—the One who gives meaning and purpose to your life. He lifts your head, providing comfort and encouragement when you need it most. Don’t give in to hopelessness. Continue to look to God for hope and strength.
Bottom Line
No matter how badly things may be going, we always have hope knowing our great and gracious God will help us.