One of the reasons we may end up disappointed is that we have unrealistic expectations. We put our hope in a desired outcome or a person, and when the outcome or person inevitably fails us, we end up disappointed. Our hopes are crushed, and we are heartbroken. The truth is, when we place our hope in a desired outcome or circumstance, we will find ourselves discouraged every single time. You see, nothing in this world can satisfy our deepest needs. Only God can do that. When we look to anything else, we will always find ourselves disappointed.
The Psalmist acknowledged the importance of looking only to Christ for our hope in Psalm 33. In this Psalm, he wrote, “The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—for all its strength, it cannot save you” (verses 16-17). Neither the greatest earthly king nor the most powerful equipment can save. The Psalmist continued, saying, “But the Lord watches over those who fear Him, those who rely on His unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine” (verse 18). The Lord is the only One who can save. As a result, the Psalmist continued, “We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield” (verse 20). Because the Lord is the only One who saves, He is the One we must place our hope in. After all, He is our helper and protector.
Where is your hope today? Are you looking for hope in something in this world, like another person, a desired outcome, or a financial goal? I urge you, if you are looking for hope in anything else but God, to turn your eyes back toward Him today. He is the only one who can save.
Write down Psalm 33:20 on an index card. Place your index card somewhere you will regularly see it, and reflect on Psalm 33:30 often. Let this verse be a reminder to look only to Christ as your true source of hope. After all, He alone has the power to rescue the world from sin and death.
Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord;
it is fitting for the pure to praise him.
2 Praise the Lord with melodies on the lyre;
make music for him on the ten-stringed harp.
3 Sing a new song of praise to him;
play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.
4 For the word of the Lord holds true,
and we can trust everything he does.
5 He loves whatever is just and good;
the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.
6 The Lord merely spoke,
and the heavens were created.
He breathed the word,
and all the stars were born.
7 He assigned the sea its boundaries
and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs.
8 Let the whole world fear the Lord,
and let everyone stand in awe of him.
9 For when he spoke, the world began!
It appeared at his command.
10 The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations
and thwarts all their schemes.
11 But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever;
his intentions can never be shaken.
12 What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord,
whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.
13 The Lord looks down from heaven
and sees the whole human race.
14 From his throne he observes
all who live on the earth.
15 He made their hearts,
so he understands everything they do.
16 The best-equipped army cannot save a king,
nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.
17 Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—
for all its strength, it cannot save you.
18 But the Lord watches over those who fear him,
those who rely on his unfailing love.
19 He rescues them from death
and keeps them alive in times of famine.
20 We put our hope in the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
for our hope is in you alone
