July 7, 2023

Lamentations 4: 17 Moreover, our eyes failed, looking in vain for help; from our towers we watched for a nation that could not save us. (NIV)

God does not rely on the strengths that our society exalts.*

There’s a song about looking for love in all the wrong places, but the author of Lamentations might sing about looking for hope in all the wrong places. For decades, the nation of Judah had been trying to manipulate Egypt into being their ally – to be their rescue from Babylon – but the Egyptian army wasn’t there when they needed them. 

We often misplace our hope and trust. The psalmist says, “Blessed is he whose . . . hope is in the Lord his God.” (Psalm 146: 5) It seems obvious that we should not place our trust in things, but are we never to put our trust in other people? Honestly, I don’t think we have any choice but to trust others. God has chosen to use humans as his hands and feet for accomplishing his purposes on earth. There will be occasions in life when we have to trust those who care about us and allow them to show us they care. 

But, although God puts people in our lives that we can - and should - trust, he is the only one we can trust to save us. You may look to wealth and health to improve the conditions of your life, but you will be looking to them in vain if you are expecting them to save you. Put your hope in the Lord.

If we would truly accept that only God can save and sanctify, it would give us a radical gratefulness for our salvation.*