Reasons for hope

Great encouragement is available to help defeat sadness.

“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” That is the King James rendition of Psalm 42:11 that would have been familiar to Maltbie Babcock when he wrote the words of what would become the hymn, “This Is My Father’s World.” A more contemporary Psalm 42:11 would be the New International Version (NIV):

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” The word, “countenance” in the KJV refers to facial expressions that reveal our inner thoughts. The Savior’s presence helps bring hope and peace to our inner turmoil. And it shows on our face.

Babcock’s poem encourages us to connect with the true direction of history – not allowing the world’s hopeless conditions to cause us to personally, despairingly, become hopeless.

The last verses of “This Is My Father’s World” as originally written, were:

“This is my Father’s world.

O let me ne’er forget

That though the wrong seems

oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world:

why should my heart be sad?

The Lord is King; let the

heavens ring!

God reigns; let the earth be glad!”

These words express a hopeful future, an expectation, anchored in the promises of God, for our personal salvation and for the ultimate victory of Jesus Christ – no matter how things look right now.

The choice is where to focus our faith. But then, faith has always been a choice. God doesn’t force us; He just invites us. Jesus said, “Come unto Me all of you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Be encouraged.