Much hope indeed in the LORD

https://odb.org/2026/01/27/hope-in-faith

Psalm 31:13-16 NIV – 13 For I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side!” They conspire against me and plot to take my life. 14 But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” 15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me. 16 Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

As Jesus hung dying on the cross, He spoke the words of the Psalms. We’re familiar with those from Psalm 22:1: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (see Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). The words communicate deep pain and a kind of hopelessness in the face of utter despair. The circumstances of both David and His true heir, Jesus, led both to cry out in anguish.

But the words that Christ quotes just before surrendering to death carry a different note: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). Here, He quotes David again—but the words of Psalm 31 point to an unshakable confidence in the goodness of the Father despite suffering. (Jed Ostoich, Insight, Our Daily Bread 27th January 2026)

There could be times in our lives when we cry out to God in frustration and despair – because of the seemingly impossible situation we may find ourselves to be in. We wished the outcome was different. But it is what it is. It is sad, disappointing and not what we wanted at all. However, although we may choose not to admit it, some of these unfavourable situations may do us good, if not in the natural at least in the spiritual.

Jesus faced something similar at the cross. He knew He had to go through the process for the sake of mankind. Yet He felt the anguish as God forsakes Him when He took the sins of the world upon Himself. Perhaps it was the human side of Jesus speaking. The reality was that when faced with the sins of mankind, God had to turn His face away and that moment broke Jesus’s heart.

The moment was fleeting as Jesus quickly recovered. He accepted the situation and moved on to the moment He was sent to the earth. “Into Your hands, I commit my spirit” as He gave up His life to die for our sins, trusting in God for His goodness and blessings. He rose again victorious, having defeated the sting of sin which is death and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.

I think as human beings we are allowed to cry out in anguish and wallow in self-pity and sadness. We are after all only human. We are intrinsically weak due our fallen nature. But as beings already awakened in our spirit, we must quickly rise up and do what Jesus did at the cross, that is, put our full trust in God. We trust in His providence and plans. We commit our lives to Him notwithstanding what we went through, trusting in Paul’s exaltation in Romans 8:28 – “…that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”.

Cry our hearts out if we want to. Shed our tears. Be sad. Be frustrated. But quickly move on and trust God for our coming days. Trust in His mercy and grace. Trust in His plans for us. There is hope, much hope indeed, in the LORD our God! Amen!

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV – 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.