Put your hope in God
by Colleen Fitzpatrick
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Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God (Psalm 42:5).
Read Psalm 42 and 43
The psalmist is a troubled soul – this reverberates through the verses that we have read. Three times, the psalmist questions, ‘Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?’ And three times, we read the reassurance, ‘Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.’
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we didn’t have much in the way of lockdowns here in South Australia. In fact, it was quite novel not to have to worry about any commitments and doing things. Instead, we could just be.
I know that in other places, people really struggled with the isolation and the limitations placed on them and that there are some long-term effects, particularly on children whose education and socialisation were seriously disrupted, leading to ongoing issues.
One thing I do recall is how much I missed going to church. I missed being with our community, the after-church socialisation and our worship – the liturgy, the confession and absolution, the hymns (I love to sing the hymns and give voice to what each hymn or song confesses – we have such a rich resource in our hymnody). Most of all, I missed the fellowship we experienced when gathered around the altar to receive Christ’s body and blood. Zoom church was a weak second-best!
I also recall the joyful celebration of our first Sunday back at church. I wrote in my diary on 12 July 2020:
Back to church at last – trumpets to welcome us. It was very moving to have a thundering organ, and so good to be able to sing again – some great hymns, church triumphant ones. And so comforting to, at last, meet together at the altar and receive holy communion.
As the psalmist writes, it was a joy and a delight to go to the altar of God.
Three times in today’s reading, we are reminded to put our hope in God. Whatever happens, we can put our hope in God. What a comfort that is in these days when we are experiencing so much that has never been experienced before. There are things we can worry about locally, not to mention in the world at large. We can also rest securely, believing that no matter what happens, we can put our hope in God.
Gracious God, thank you for the opportunities we have to come together, worship you and nurture our faith. Thank you for the gift of faith that enables us to hope even when things look hopeless. Thank you for the comfort that your promises give to us. Amen.
Colleen Fitzpatrick is retired and lives in Adelaide. She enjoys reading and writing. She particularly likes listening to people’s stories and learning from them about who they are and what they do. She loves nature and the beauty of God’s creation.
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