Several evenings ago I read a verse that has continued to meander into my consciousness:<\/p>\n
“Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope”<\/span> (Psalm 119:49).<\/p>\n Sometimes, though, it seems I’ve misappropriated God’s words for my own hope. <\/p>\n Does God cause me to hope…and then forget? No.<\/p>\n Does God cause me to hope…while not intending that hope to actually be for me? No.<\/p>\n I think those are two easy questions to answer.<\/p>\n But what about these next two?<\/p>\n Can it be I’ve erred in thinking that a given (hope-inducing) portion of God’s Word is specifically for me?<\/p>\n Does God make general promises in the Scriptures that I dare not presume to be directed at me?<\/p>\n In ways I never have before, I’ve been contemplating and struggling with such questions. Perhaps it has been good. I’m not sure.<\/p>\n I am sure<\/i>, though, that it is good for me to keep coming back to something another hopeful-yet-doubtful man exclaimed a “number” of years ago: “Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief”<\/span> (Mark 9:24).<\/p>\n Oh…here’s more of the context where I found that first verse I mentioned:<\/p>\n Do as thou hast said.<\/b> \u2014II Sam. 7:25.<\/p>\n Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The rest of those selections are here: Daily Light on the Daily Path | October 31, Evening<\/a>.<\/p>\n