“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.” (Psalm 23:1–2)
Do you believe this? Hope can feel fragile when it isn’t anchored in God’s promises. Burned-out hopes, dreams that didn’t unfold the way we longed for, relationships that broke, or prayers that seemed to return only silence. These moments can leave us weary, discouraged, and unsure of what to do next.
I remember wrestling with it in my own story. As a young man, I longed to be married. I prayed and waited. I turned thirty and was still single. Then thirty-five came, and I could feel my confidence in God’s ability to meet the desires of my heart begin to fade. My hope felt like it was hanging by a thin thread. Your story may look different, but the ache is the same. Sometimes you’ve longed to repair a relationship that still feels distant. Sometimes you’ve prayed for reconciliation with a son or daughter, but the silence remains. Sometimes you’ve pursued a dream, career, calling, or purpose; only to run into disappointment. Sometimes you’ve asked God for healing from anxiety or depression, and the journey has felt slow and heavy. We’ve all had seasons where hope feels less like a secure anchor and more like a frayed rope pulled tight under the weight of waiting.
But here’s what God wants us to remember: David lived in the wilderness and learned this prayer that invites us to hope in God. Hope is not denying disappointment or minimizing desire. Hope is trusting the character of God when the outcome is still unseen. God cares about his sheep. So we choose to believe that God is at work even in our waiting. It is showing up, and holding on to a kind of hope that trusts.
And we do not hope alone. Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He sees us. He knows us. He is not indifferent to our tears or our longing. In Christ, our longings find their true home. He provides what we need in the fullness of time. He protects us when we feel vulnerable. He heals our wounds, sometimes slowly, but always faithfully. He remains present every single day, especially in the waiting.Hope is not fragile when it rests in the good Shepherd.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him…” ( Romans 15:13)
Prayer Prompt: Dear God, thank you that you are good and that you are working things out while I wait and pray. I trust your love for me and thank you for guiding me beside green pastures. Amen.
Song of the Day: Trust in God - Elevation Worship
