Thanks for stopping by! This is Day 26 of my 2015 “31 Days Reflecting on God” series. Find the rest over here.

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Psalm 62:5-7

Have you ever hung on in the dark to something – anything – that will get you through the night to the morning light? Sometimes life is that way. We put one foot in front of the other in survival mode. Just. Gotta. Make. It.

Today I felt that way. For me right now, being the mom of two, soon to be three, little monkeys sends me into survival mode. But for you maybe it’s hard college classes, or frustrating coworkers, or trauma from the past. Just getting to bedtime takes everything you’ve got. Talking to people seems too daunting to consider. Trying to think of making something besides a peanut butter sandwich or ramen noodles for dinner sends you into a brain coma.

When I heard these lyrics to Ellie Holcomb’s song Only Hope I’ve Got, something clicked inside me.

I don’t wanna tell some arrogant story
Or let myself believe I’m you!
I don’t wanna be a thief who’s stealing Your glory…
Will You help remind me of what is true? The ONLY hope I’ve got, it’s You,You.

Or do I think I have anything to offer, when You have overcome the world?
Couldn’t take Your place, ’cause You’re the Author of the greatest love this world has known.

What I realized in my discouragement today was that I can choose to see my times of weakness as a blessing because they allow me to remember that I can’t find hope in myself.

If I could do this life on my own, I would have an arrogant story to tell. I would be god of my own universe. I could claim all the glory.

But I haven’t overcome the world myself. I haven’t authored the great love story my God has. All my gifts, abilities, and every job I do with my hands come from God, who is my only hope. And by choosing thankfulness in this moment of hard things, I can see just a little more clearly God’s hand in it all.

God is our promise on the dark nights, or the long days. He brings the peace we need to roll over and fall back to sleep. He pours in the strength we need to stand up and do that one more thing he’s given us to do.

On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Only God himself. My only hope.

 

•