Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC

Psalm 20:7-8
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
But we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They collapse and fall,
But we rise and stand upright.

In high school, I had the privilege of going on a mission trip to Arkansas to help rebuild a campground. Our service projects the whole week consisted of building projects and clean-up for the kids’ camp that was to be hosted there the next few weeks. One of my tasks was putting metal tin on one of the roofs of the cabin bunks there at the camp. I am on the roof (about 10 ft high) finishing the work, and before I step onto the ladder to get down, I asked the man who was stabilizing the ladder if it was latched or not. He mentioned that it was, and I had nothing to worry about, so I trusted him and took that step. Sure enough, it wasn’t latched and I went tumbling down from the roof onto the ground. What made it worse was that the guy not only forgot to latch the ladder, he didn’t even catch me when I fell. I trusted in him to have my back, and he failed miserably.

I learned my lesson that day to think twice about trusting in that person when it comes to latching a ladder. Bringing it to today, the question at hand is simply this: When it comes to your life who/what are you trusting in? The Psalmist David highlights this reality that many in his day trusted in what they had (horses and chariots), meaning that they placed their stock and hope in those things, but here is what happened when they chose to do so: They fell. Whereas, those who trust in the Lord will stand!

There were many in David’s day who were boasting in the possessions and material wealth they had. They essentially worshipped what all they had instead of worshipping the Lord. See, there is no problem with having possessions. The problem is when those possessions have you. When you choose to place your hope in what you have/what you can do rather than placing your hope in the One who has graciously blessed you with all you have there is a problem: What happens to you when the possessions fade? Or the riches go away? What happens when what you have placed your hope in breaks or doesn’t work anymore? Sadly, you fall and collapse with those things.

That is why David encourages us to choose to trust and to put our hope in the Lord. For in Him, though life becomes turbulent or though you may lose everything, He is still with you. Though life may get crazy or though you may get tired, He is there to give you the strength to keep going (Isaiah 40:28-31).  He is there to comfort you (2 Corinthians 1:4) and through that, you will “rise” and “stand upright” in light of the craziness.

So the question this morning is, what are you placing your hope in? Is your hope in your stuff or in the Savior? Is it in your abilities or in the Almighty God? If it is in anything other than the Lord, I encourage you to choose to repent and place your hope in the One who will never fail you and who never will fade!

PRAYER FOR TODAY
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for who you are! I thank you that You will never fail us! Help me to choose not to place my hope in my possessions or in my abilities, but in You. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.