Hope, What a Precious Word

Without hope all we need is lost! with hope (in God) all we need is found! Why art thou cast down, O my soul?and why art thou disquieted in me?hope thou in God:for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Ps.42:5 Today's poem is inspired in part by the above verse, and in part by our message yesterday morning from Ps.23as God ministered to His flock through the preaching of His Word.As we hope in Him our good Shepherd restores our souls! Now faith is the substance of things hoped for...Heb.11:1 For in this hope we were saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see?  But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently. For we walk by faith, not by sight. Hope-what a precious word; 'hope thou in God' Amen to trust the more, and thenWith strength and joy restored, hope in God sings and singsFor ; when cares and sorrows pressWhere wayward paths increase and fattened feelings tauntHope eclipses desire with peace and cries ; unyielding, in the frayHope arms and anchors; does not bend to 'did God really say?But with glad confidence beneath His rod reproved/behoovedHope replies A Rock that does not shift through howling gales of change, lest we should drift and let sight, faith estrangeAs God tests wish and whim with patience-honing waysTake up hope's cross and follow Him with persevering praise Effort and rest, in sync; Hope in God slakes faith's thirstAnd never disappoints; His gift of grace enough © Janet Martin Eph.2:4-5But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),...