By: Gabbie

Read: Exodus 34:1-35:9, Matthew 27:15-31, Psalm 33:12-22, Proverbs 9:1-6

We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield.
(Psalm 33:20)

Relate: In the world we live in today, war and suffering are rampant. Lately, there’s been the war between Israel and Gaza and the war between Ukraine and Russia. Even in the United States, there has been a wildfire in Los Angeles. Even when we aren’t considering the major events that have happened in recent times, there have been so many crimes and so many wrongdoings that have been done to people. We truly live in a broken world. Like this Psalm says, no king or warrior, no matter how big their army is or how strong they are, can save us. Because of sin, we live in a broken and flawed world that not even the biggest army or the richest person, with all the power of Doge behind them, can save.

Many people believe that maybe solving world hunger or finding world peace is possible in this world, and are trying to find ways to do so. Many people throughout history have tried to find ways to make the world perfect and without flaws, even going to the extremity of eugenics and other things. No matter how many people have tried to save the world or try to make it perfect, they all have failed and will continue to fail. 

React: As Christians, we are all waiting for the time that Jesus will come back and the world that God created can have no more sin anymore and be perfect. When terrible events were brought up within my family, my parents and all of the adults in my extended family would often talk about how we can only wait in hope for the Lord. Despite the flawedness of our world today and despite the different things happening in different parts of the world, Psalm 33:12-22 is clear: Blessed is the nation who believes in God. We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. We trust his holy name. His love is unfailing. Like my parents and my other family members would tell me, we need to believe that Jesus will come and save us, instead of believing that we can save ourselves or that this world wouldn’t be saved.

Respond:

Dear Lord,
Thank you for forgiving me of my sins. There is so much suffering in this world, and I pray that you will help the people going through everything. Thank you that you died on the Cross, rose again, and that you will come back again.
Amen.