{"id":1017,"date":"2024-07-01T14:19:20","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T14:19:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/?page_id=1017"},"modified":"2025-12-15T20:27:25","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T20:27:25","slug":"embracing-hope","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/embracing-hope\/","title":{"rendered":"EMBRACING HOPE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

EMBRACING HOPE!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psalm 42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

INTRODUCTION:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A young boy had misbehaved and was sent to bed by his mother. Just 5 minutes later he cried out Mom, I\u2019m thirsty, can you bring me a drink of water? No, go to sleep. Five minutes later. Mom? What? Can I have a drink of water? She says I told you no and if you ask again I\u2019m going to have to spank you. Five minutes later Mom? What??? When you come in to spank me, would you bring me a drink of water?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, have you ever been thirsty? I mean really thirsty. Your lips become dry. Your mouth is parched. Maybe your lips are even cracked from the dryness. But this is no water available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, this morning we\u2019re going to look at a psalm where the writer is experiencing just that kind of season in life. He\u2019s thirsty \u2014 but not so much for water, but for hope<\/strong>! He longs to embrace hope!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You know, hope is a big deal<\/strong>. It\u2019s actually critical to living a good and fulfilling life. Hope points us towards something more. It leads us to long for, to crave for, to expect something better!\u00a0And without it, we really don\u2019t have much of a life. Today I want to point you in the direction of hope \u2014 true hope! Not wishful thinking, but real hope!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This morning we\u2019re looking a psalm which is believed to have been penned by the great King, David<\/strong>. If you have your Bible, turn with me to Psalm 42<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, you\u2019ll notice in your Bible \u2014 there\u2019s a title above these psalms that says, \u201cThe Sons of Korah\u201d.<\/strong> These Sons of Korah<\/strong> were musicians and worship leaders during the days of King David\u2019s reign<\/strong>. And many scholars believe that David <\/strong>probably penned these words \u2014 but commissioned the Sons of Korah<\/strong> to put them to music. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But even if he didn\u2019t write them \u2014 they were at least based on his own personal experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And so, the context of these psalms are believed to have been written sometime in the middle of David\u2019s life \u2014<\/strong> after that time of his failure and those dark days of his encounter with Bathesheba. Because of David\u2019s sin and shame, he was some 150 miles away from the halls of his palace \u2014 living again in the sands of the deserts of Mount Hermon.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But in his separation from his city, he also felt separated from God\u2019s presence. He was on the run, away from his people, away from his friends, and away from the joy of corporate worship.\u00a0He was desperate, and discouraged and defeated in his soul. Many believe he was so heavy hearted that he was in a full-blown season of depression.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depression is real. It can be debilitating and almost crippling to our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And there are many believers, many heroes of our faith who (like David) struggled with their emotions and faced times of despair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of you will know the name Martin Luther.<\/strong> He was a 16th century German monk<\/strong>. He had served as a Catholic priest<\/strong>, and a professor of theology.\u00a0<\/strong> He was the pivotal figure in the 16th-century church. He was the man who is noted for starting the Protestant Reformation. You might recall how he confronted the church of his day by nailing his 96 Thesis (a list of challenges to the practices and teachings that he believed to be in conflict with the Bible).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, on one occasion Luther<\/strong> spent three days in a deep depression over something that had gone wrong. He sulked about, and moaned over the issue, and its affect on his life. He didn\u2019t speak much and didn\u2019t want to be seen. He stayed in his home \u2014 hiding from everyone.\u00a0Well, on the third day of his depression his wife came downstairs dressed in mourning clothes. Luther<\/strong> looked at her and asked, “Who\u2019s dead?” <\/strong>To which she replied, \u201cGod!\u201d<\/strong> Luther rebuked her, saying, “What do you mean, God is dead? God cannot die.” <\/strong>But she simply replied: “Well, the way you\u2019ve been acting I was sure He had!”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen, throughout Christian history many deeply spiritual men and women have experienced depression: Moses did, Elijah did, Jonah did, and many more. <\/strong>Including the writer of this psalm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like many before him and many after him \u2014 David<\/strong> too had sunk down into emotional sorrow,<\/strong> personal pain, and spiritual discouragement.<\/strong> And this psalm tells his story. But make no mistake about it <\/strong>\u2014 while this psalm tell us a story of David\u2019s pain<\/strong> \u2014 it also remind us that real Hope is found in God alone!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen, the question today isn\u2019t \u2014 will you face times of despair<\/strong>, but what will you do\u00a0<\/strong>(or where will you turn)\u00a0<\/strong> when you do? My hope is that when trouble comes your way \u2014 you will turn TO God<\/strong> and not away from Him.\u00a0It\u2019s for that reason, that I want us to study this psalm<\/strong> today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

MESSAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So look with me at Psalm 42<\/strong>. Here the psalmist writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1<\/em><\/strong> As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. <\/em>2<\/em><\/strong> My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? <\/em>3<\/em><\/strong> My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, \u201cWhere is your God?\u201d <\/em>4<\/em><\/strong>These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes it\u2019s our past circumstances<\/strong> that brings us the greatest pain and discouragement. Even so, David writes, <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He goes on to say in verse 6<\/strong>,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6<\/em><\/strong> My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon\u2014from Mount Mizar. <\/em>7<\/em><\/strong> Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. <\/em>8<\/em><\/strong> By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me\u2014a prayer to the God of my life. 9 <\/em>I say to God my Rock, \u201cWhy have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?\u201d <\/em>10<\/em><\/strong> My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, \u201cWhere is your God?<\/em>\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And here we discover that sometimes its our present circumstances<\/strong> that bring us pain and discouragement. Even so, David writes,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

11<\/em><\/strong> Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

PSALMS 42:1-11 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You know, I really love the Psalms, and maybe it\u2019s because of the transparency that we find within them. They just seem to speak to the realities of our lives. In this Psalm David tells us of the deep sadness he faced and how he dealt with it. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I guess what I want you to see is that David<\/strong> is hurting inside. He\u2019s tired. He\u2019s weak. He feels lost and alone. He\u2019s had a hard go of it \u2014 and he\u2019s battling despair and discouragement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever been there? Have you ever felt this way?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

David begins with a familiar line to most of us. He says: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1<\/em><\/strong> As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, I know this has become a beautiful phrase to the Christian community. We\u2019ve written songs about it, printed shirts with it, screened it on banners and coffee mugs. And it sounds sweet. But this was a desperate cry from a broken man.\u00a0When he used this phrase, he knew what it meant to be thirsty. Really thirsty.\u00a0Remember, the Hebrew people lived in a desert land. Their history was a nomadic one. They had a keen awareness of the need for water. Because it was scarce. It was hard to find.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The heat and lack of shade were so strong that a man could dehydrate and waste away faster than one might imagine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, when the writer says… ”As the deer pants for water…”<\/em> He\u2019s revealing his utter desperation for God<\/strong> and His presence. He was saying, \u201cWithout you \u2014 I feel like I\u2019m dying.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we see in this Psalm is a man fighting for hope. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So where does he turn?<\/strong> What can we learn from this psalm and David\u2019s response to his despair? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First of all, when life hits you hard \u2014 David says you must:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. POUR OUT YOUR HEART TO GOD. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the phrase that David uses. He says…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4<\/em><\/strong> These things I remember as I pour out my soul:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

David\u2019s first step in moving towards hope was to pour out his heart to God. It might sound simple — but I’ve discovered that many people are just afraid to do this, they are afraid to get honest with God. Instead, they just play it safe and fill their prayers with polite religious phrases so that they are careful not to offend God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yet, that doesn’t really make sense, because he already knows what’s going on in your life, and he already knows what’s in your heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can lie to others and there’s a good chance they’ll believe you. You can even lie to yourself, and make yourself believe it. But you cannot lie to God. If you pretend in your prayers that everything is OK even when it’s not, don’t think you’re pulling one over on God. He is not that easily fooled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s what I’m saying. Prayer time is not a performance. It’s not a job interview. There’s no pressure here to put your best foot forward. The time you spend in prayer is a time when you have the liberty \u2014 and the privilege \u2014 of being gut-level no-holds-barred honest with the One who already knows everything about you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

C.S. Lewis<\/strong>, in his book on prayer, said…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/em><\/strong>“We must lay before him what is in us; not what ought to be in us.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you’re frustrated and discouraged and disillusioned and discontent, you can tell God about it. He can handle your honesty. In fact, Jesus would urge us to be honest with God \u2014 because the truth is a powerful thing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In John 8, Jesus said, \u201cThe truth will set you free.\u201d Now, he was talking about Himself \u2014 and putting your trust in Him. But in like manner, proclaiming the truth also has the power to set you free. It frees you from living a hidden or fake life. It also always you to move towards healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s at this point of gut-level honesty that God is able to begin his work in your life. He can answer a prayer you\u2019re not willing to pray. So be honest, and pour out your heart to God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doing so allows you to follow in David\u2019s<\/strong> footsteps\u2014and he second thing his story teaches you is to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S PRESENCE AND POWER.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not enough to simply bear your heart to God in prayer \u2014 but along with that, David teaches you to acknowledge the presence of God at work in your life. Because sometimes the feelings we expose in prayer are what we are feeling \u2014 but they\u2019re not always the truth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feelings have a way of distorting reality. Such was the case for David. If you notice his words, you’ll see that he seems to contradict himself. There seems to be a disconnect between what he feels <\/strong>and what he knows<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What he feels in verse 9 doesn\u2019t jive with reality<\/strong>. In verse 9<\/strong> he says,  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I say to God my Rock, \u201cWhy have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what he knows is this…in verse 8<\/strong> he says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me\u2014a prayer to the God of my life.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So… What is it? Which is correct? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Has God forgotten him<\/strong>, or is God with him day and night?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

God is with Him!<\/strong> While his feelings are real \u2014 they aren\u2019t truth. He certainly feels alone. He feels forgotten. But that\u2019s not the truth! Because God was with Him. God was present and working in His life \u2014 he just didn\u2019t feel God\u2019s presence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to do as he did in verse 8 and acknowledge the fact that GOD IS WITH YOU \u2014 and He directs His song to you at night (meaning that God singing over you). He is blessing you. He is with you and for you and His power is on your life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, when suffering comes… When sadness sets in… When depression keeps you from wanting to get out of your bed… It may feel like God is a million miles away. But He\u2019s not.\u00a0Acknowledge what you know \u2014 not what you feel.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recognize God\u2019s presence by faith and know that with His presence comes His power…a power so great that nothing can stand against it. And if God is for you \u2014 then who can stand against you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What David discovered in his own despair was that when his feelings affirmed his pain<\/strong>. He needed to affirm God\u2019s presence! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the same is true for you. When your sadness and despair tell you God has abandoned you, reject that lie and declare what is true. Remind yourself of God\u2019s abiding presence \u2014 and tell yourself that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 God is good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 He loves you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 He is with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 And He is in control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notice in verse 7<\/strong> that the psalmist says, even the winds and the waves are in the hands of God. This speaks to God\u2019s great power! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When David writes, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7<\/em><\/strong> Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one sense, he is acknowledging that even the winds and the waves crashing around him belong to God. Even they aren\u2019t outside of God\u2019s control. Even the wind and the waves are His. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It reminds me of a New Testament story where Jesus (the Son of God) demonstrated His power of just such a storm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you\u2019ll recall, there\u2019s a story about Jesus pausing his busy routine to go up on a mountain to pray. As he did, he sent his disciples ahead of him across a Great Lake on evening. Separated from Him, a storm began to brew. In just a short time \u2014 a massive storm blew onto the lake and threatened to sink them. Fearful for their lives they panicked. But in just a moment \u2014 Jesus comes to them, walking on the water. He brings his power and His peace…and he waters quiet down and the storm ceases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And do you know why<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because all the waves and breakers that might threaten to sweep over us \u2014 are all in His hands. He is over all things! And when he\u2019s present, we have no need to fear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many years ago, Robert Louis Stevenson<\/strong>, told a similar story about a ship caught in a terrible storm<\/strong>. As the storm raged \u2014 hurricane winds pounded the ship. The driving rain and crashing waves were so strong that they threatened to bring the ship down.\u00a0In the midst of the terror, one daring man pulled himself up<\/strong> from the bowels of the ship to it\u2019s slippery deck \u2014 and then across the ship to the stairs leading up to the ship’s hold, where the captain stood.\u00a0Fearful of what he’d see, he careful looked into the hold \u2014 where he saw the captain, standing confidently at his post. While watching him, the captain turned and gave a nod and a smile to the fearful seaman.\u00a0With that, the man went back below deck with a new found peace. To his crewmen he said, ”I have seen the face of the captain, and he smiled at me. All is well.”\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen, when the storms of life hit you, and discouragement creeps into your soul \u2014 when you feel like you are drowning in despair. Look to the captain…and see if He is at his post, <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psalm 42:8<\/strong> affirms that the captain of our ship is always at his post \u2014 and he\u2019s always smiling. It says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8<\/em><\/strong> By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me\u2014a prayer to the God of my life.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

David teaches us to always acknowledge God\u2019s presence. Because He\u2019s always with us!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But sometimes what\u2019s need most is what David did multiple times in these psalms. When life hits you hard \u2014 you must pour your heart out to God, acknowledge God\u2019s presence, and thirdly, you must…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. TELL YOURSELF WHAT YOU NEED TO HEAR.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t wait for someone else to speak into your life \u2014 you do that. Take the initiative to proclaim the word of God and the encouragement found within it to yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this psalm David talks about the voices of the dissenters all around him…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10<\/em><\/strong> My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, \u201cWhere is your God?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And sometimes \u2014 that\u2019s just the way it is. An unfortunate fact of life is that there are many such voices in the world around \u2014 voices that cast doubt on God’s faithfulness, and voices that cast doubt on your ability to receive God’s blessings. They say things like: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 “You’ll never make it,” they say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 “God has forgotten you,” they say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 “Why don’t you just give up?” they say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But you have a choice\u2014 you can listen to what they’re telling you<\/strong>, or you can tell yourself what you need to hear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 Samuel 30<\/strong> tells of a time when David<\/strong> was deeply discouraged by all that was going on his life. His own troops were threatening to kill him. David was just about ready to give up, but then the Bible says…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

…David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. <\/em>(<\/em>1 Samuel 30:6<\/em><\/strong> KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DAVID TELLS US THAT theRE IS A Remedy for Discouragement \u2014 and it\u2019s NOT FOUND IN THE VOICES OF OTHERS \u2014 IT\u2019S found in God!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So encourage yourself to HOPE IN HIM!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again and again David<\/strong> points to the source of his help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He continually reminds himself and us that there is an answer to our sorrow. After each refrain of pain, suffering, and discouragement \u2014 he offers himself a refrain of hope. He literally speaks to his heart when he says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? <\/em>Put your hope in God<\/em><\/strong>…<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psalm 42:5, 42:11<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what do you do when you can’t change your outward circumstances? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We change our inner circumstances! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You speak to yourself and direct your heart to…<\/em>Put your hope in God!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was the late Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones<\/strong>, (that great British pastor of Westminster Chapel in London) who reflected upon the reality of depression who wrote in his book, Spiritual Depression,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHave you not realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead<\/strong> of<\/strong> talking to yourself? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He<\/strong> suggested that we, take those thoughts that come to us when we wake up in the morning and turn them around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of my former professors at Anderson University is fond of saying: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTake your questions and turn them into declaratives and exclamatory statements!\u201d\u00a0<\/em> \u2014 Dr. Kris Barnett<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Instead of asking, \u201cDoes God love me?\u201d Declare, \u201cGod does love me!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Instead of asking, \u201cWill God help me?\u201d Declare, \u201cGod will help me!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Instead of asking, \u201cIs God with me?\u201d Declare, \u201cGod is with me!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014Instead of listening to discouragement \u2014 remind yourselves that genuine Hope is found in God.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, speak to your soul! And declare the truth of God\u2019s Word in your life!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When life hits you hard and the enemy of your soul is pushing you down and telling you lies, it\u2019s up to you to stand in faith, empowered by the Spirit of God and encourage yourself to find your strength in the Lord your God.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When every one around you is negative and critical and speaking doubt and despair, and you’re tempted to join in their songs of defeat — stop. Tell yourself what you need to hear \u2014 that God is God, and he is good, and he will see you through. So, EMBRACE HOPE!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You know, hope is a small word<\/strong>, but it is one of the most powerful<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s important to understand that the Hebrew word for hope doesn’t imply that something might happen. That’s not what hope is. It’s not just wishful thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people think hope<\/strong> is an emotion. They say, \u201cI\u2019m feeling hopeful.\u201d But true hope is a discipline<\/strong>, it\u2019s a determination,<\/strong> it\u2019s a choice,<\/strong> It\u2019s a determination to believe in God\u2019s Reality and His Power, and His abiding Presence.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And even when the world seems to be crashing down around you\u2014hope turns to God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hope is a confident assurance that something better is ahead. And in regards to our faith in Christ, Hope is having a confident expectation that He will sustain you and strengthen you and heal you and help you and one day \u2014 take you to reign with Him forever!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The key to surviving any challenge or crisis any season of discouragement is not to BETTER YOURSELF \u2014 it\u2019s not to TRY HARDER \u2014 its to embrace hope<\/strong>. Choose to put your hope in God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hope acknowledges that your future is better in His hands than in yours<\/strong>. That\u2019s what the prophet Jeremiah was getting at when he spoke to the people of his day and said, while life is hard and times are bad \u2014 you can trust in God. For He says to you: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2019For I know the plans I have for you,\u201d declares the LORD, \u201cplans to prosper you and not to harm you, <\/em>plans to give you hope<\/em><\/strong> and a future\u2019\u201d<\/em> (Jeremiah 29:11). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People often distort this verse and rip it from the context in which it was originally written. But know this, the prospering that God sought to do in the lives of His people then \u2014 and in the lives of His people now had NOTHING to do with money or possessions, it had to do with HOPE!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God\u2019s plan was and is to PROSPER YOU WITH HOPE! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For it was the prophet Isaiah<\/strong> who declared:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThose who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.<\/em> They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint\u201d <\/em>(Isaiah 40:31). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When our spiritual life becomes dry, and we long for something more\u2026something fresh (like the deer panting for the water brooks), we can find refreshment in Jesus!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He brings us tranquility in the midst of turbulence. And sustenance in the midst of suffering. And He offers us peace in the midst of our pain! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you\u2019re running on empty right now \u2014 be honest with yourself and others.<\/strong> Stop pretending. Hope in God.  Be refreshed by His power and His presence. Folks, that\u2019s the message of Psalm 42<\/strong>. You can be re-filled, refreshed, and renewed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CLOSING:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want to invite you to stand with me \u2014 and as we close this morning. If you have a burden that\u2019s tuned into discouragement and you feel empty and dry\u2026I invite you to join me around these altars so we can pray with you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a burden that\u2019s too big, a pain that\u2019s too great, or maybe you just feel empty and dry\u2026would you come. I want to pray for you today! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve not given your life to Jesus yet, then I encourage you to begin there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because if you haven\u2019t trusted in Jesus \u2014 then you have no hope, not now or in the days to come. Your future is uncertain and you have no idea what tomorrow may bring. Decide right here and now, at this very moment, to fix your hope on the promises and the presence of God that we find in Jesus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today is your day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).  So . . . <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/strong>\u25aa<\/strong> Admit<\/strong> \u2013 that your a sinner in need of a Savior (Romans 6:23)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/strong>\u25aa<\/strong> Abandon<\/strong> \u2013 self-effort and realize I can not be saved by your own effort (Acts 16:31)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/strong>\u25aa<\/strong> Accept<\/strong> Jesus\u2019s free gift of salvation and the payment for your sins. (John 3:16)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/strong>\u25aa<\/strong> Acknowledge<\/strong> Him as your Lord and Savior (Acts 4:12)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019d like to do that now, then pray with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heavenly<\/em><\/strong>Father<\/em><\/strong>, I admit that I am a sinner and I\u2019ve chosen my way over yours too often. But all that changes today. Because, I believe in Your Son, Jesus. I believe that He came from Heaven to earth to pay for my sin. I believe He died on the cross, shed His blood, was put in a grave \u2014 and rose again. So, today \u2014 I put my faith in Jesus. <\/em>Forgive me of my sin<\/em><\/strong>. Save me and give me new life in you forever. I pray this in Jesus name, Amen. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you prayed today and made a decision to follow Jesus \u2014 would you let us know?<\/strong> We are so proud of you.<\/strong>This is the greatest decision you\u2019ll ever make. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

EMBRACING HOPE! Psalm 42 INTRODUCTION: A young boy had misbehaved and was sent to bed by his mother. Just 5 minutes later he cried out …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1017","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1017","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1017"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1017\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2656,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1017\/revisions\/2656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1017"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}