“But as for me, I will hope continually, and will praise you yet more and more.” NASB
As we face the sunset years, we recognize that God has been our constant help in the past. As physical powers wane, we need God even more, and we realize he is still our constant help. We must never despair, but keep on expecting his help no matter how severe our limitations. Hope in him helps us to keep going, to keep serving him.
The preceding paragraph is copied from my NIV Study Bible to explain Psalm 71:14. I found the explanation to be right on target. When we were young, we were busy with school, careers, and raising our families. Most of us worshipped and praised God (sometimes out of habit, but I believe God honors that), but tended to rely on our own strengths – at least, I’m pretty sure I did. As we grow older, we gain a better understanding of what it means to hope and to lean more and more on God for help, strength, and guidance. In our twilight years, we rejoice and praise him for his help today and for all those times in the past when he gave us strength and courage for daily living – even if we didn’t always recognize that it was God working for, and through us.
While praying and contemplating the writing of this devotional about hope, several hymns came to mind, as they often do when I’m trying to express thoughts about God. Two hymns kept popping up: “O God, Our Help in Ages Past,” and “Great is Thy Faithfulness” Listen:“O, God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, be thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home.”
“Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide. Strength for today and great hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine with ten thousand beside. Great is thy faithfulness …Lord unto me.” Amen
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