Words of Hope: What You Need When You Need It
We have a chalkboard with the “verse of the week” stenciled across the top hanging above the NBC Camps office sink. The verse we have is written in blue chalk and says, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” The verse has not been changed for over two years. We hung up the sign with every intention to switch out the verse each week but the week after we hung the sign, COVID shut us down.
Now that our office is flourishing and I stop to wash dishes for the team, I look at the sign with gratitude. I think about how something small, just eighteen words can mean so much. That is what God does. He gives us what we need right when we need it. I think about how important it is when we are going through more peaceful times, to be the voice of encouragement for others. It’s time to pray more, to love deeper, to encourage, to memorize scripture, to be ready when life is going well for the times of desolation. We need to hang scripture in the good times so that when desperation hits, the message above the sink can be a salvation for the soul. We send that text to a suffering friend which becomes a lifeline. We sing a song in the dark that becomes the difference between hope and despair.
If you are going through a difficult time, take heart. God will see you through. If you are not, pray for others who may be in difficulty. Pray Psalm 20 for them. This is a beautiful prayer to ask God for God to give them what they need when they need it.
May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.
-Psalm 20:1-5
