Hope in the Hands of God

Today we’re talking about Hope in the Hands of God, really focusing on the scripture of Psalm 33:20–22 (NLT): “We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone.”

You know, there’s a lot of noise in our world today—so many voices telling us where to put our hope. Maybe it’s in a job, a relationship, or a plan we’re trying to make work. But Psalm 33:20–22 reminds us where real hope belongs: “We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield.”

I love that image—God as both help and shield. He’s the one who gives strength when we’re weary and protection when we’re vulnerable. It’s this steady assurance that lets our hearts rest and even rejoice, no matter what’s happening around us.

So, going about your day, remember this—you don’t have to carry the weight of uncertainty. God’s unfailing love surrounds you. You can face this day with peace, knowing your hope is secure in Him.

Some days we wake up with everything we were worrying about yesterday lingering.

It can be hard to remove the things of the past from our memories, and so we just carry the weight around with us. God does say that our hope is in Him, but it can be hard to remember that hope and rejoice in it when our burdens are what we are facing.

But we can learn to start our day off in prayer by asking the Lord to help us feel Him, and in that, the hope that He provides us could be felt more clearly.

Trust in the Lord and ask Him to fill you with His hope for the day.

In Ephesians 6, we can read about the Armor of God and how important it is to be ready to face battles. With our scripture today saying that God is our hope and shield, I feel more confident when battles arise.

I don’t focus on the negative outcome but more on what God is capable of doing.

When we are looking ahead without worry because we know that God will see us through whatever is ahead, we walk with our heads high knowing that God is on our side. And with God on our side, who or what can be against us? Nothing.

Our optimism lies in trusting the Lord with all things.

Being vulnerable… hmm, it can leave us, well, feeling so wide open, and when we feel that rawness it can either be a relief or not.

I think a lot of it can depend on what the situation is, but when we are vulnerable with those close to us and with God, we are hopeful in finding comfort.

But other times, as we know, it can leave us feeling empty or alone.

This is why God tells us to come to Him and let His unfailing love surround us. He wants us to know and remember that whether we are feeling vulnerable or feeling completely comforted, He is always with us.

Psalm 33:20–22 (NLT): “We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone.”

Isn’t it amazing how our hearts respond when we shift our hope back to God? Psalm 33:21 says, “In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.”

That joy isn’t just surface-level happiness; it’s the deep, steady kind that comes from trust. Even when things don’t make sense, that trust tells your heart, “It’s okay, God’s got this.”

Maybe you’re carrying something that’s been weighing you down—a decision, a worry, or just the exhaustion of trying to hold it all together. Take a moment and remind your soul where your hope lies. It’s not in fixing everything; it’s in the One who holds everything together.

Is it hard for you to be hopeful? Are you able to show or have confidence in something or someone?

I can struggle to be hopeful. Over my life, I have been disappointed a time or two, and with that, there has been a guard put up so I’m not disappointed. In fact, I’ve learned to have no expectations for anything—I find it easier that way.

But when I think about God, my thought process has become very different over the years, and that is because no matter what I have gone through, God has been a constant, and therefore I am able to be confident in who He is and what He does.

God is the one thing we can keep our hope in and know that with Him, He will follow through with what He says.

Many of you may be carrying around some tough medical, financial, or family issues. In the midst of those, I know it’s hard to be hopeful or even think about what the light at the end of the tunnel will look like.

But the Bible does tell us and demonstrate God’s power and how we can hope and trust in Him and in His Word.

I want to encourage those of you who are struggling today to think about all the good God has done that we can read about in His Word. Think on the promises made and how He never failed to follow through. Let those things give you hope in the Lord.

Ask Him to guide you and give you the hope that you need today. I know He will hear you and provide what you are needing.

Psalm 33:20–22 (NLT): “We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone.”

You know, verse 22 of Psalm 33 is a prayer that feels just right for days like this: “Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone.”

It’s easy to hope in temporary things—timing, people, progress—but those can all shift. God’s love, though? That’s the one thing that never moves. It surrounds us, carries us, and steadies us when life feels like it’s spinning.

If you’ve been looking for reassurance today, that’s it right there: God’s love doesn’t depend on what you do—it’s who He is. And that love surrounds you right now, exactly where you are.

Who do you say God is?

What does the Bible say about God?

As you read the Bible, how does it help you know and understand God’s character and who He is?

We can have our own thoughts about who God is, and that’s fine, but to truly understand who God is and how we can and are able to keep our hope in Him, we need to get into His Word and truly understand who He is.

I know for me, I thought I knew who God was until I started reading the Bible looking for His character. When looking at the Word through that lens, I learned that God is more than what I thought. I also learned that I could trust Him more and know that I can truly put my hope in Him.

Get into the Word and see what it says about who God is. Learn to put your hope and trust in Him by learning who He is to you as well.

We can find hope in the Lord in the Bible, in others, and in our own lives. He is always working, always moving, and always showing us how much He loves us.

As I just listen to all the songs written singing praises to Him, we feel the hope and joy in who God is.

There is no lack of evidence when it comes to God’s work, God’s love, and the fact that we can put our hope in Him.

Seek the Lord above all, my friends, and know that He is the one you can trust and have confidence in above all.

I want you to take a deep breath and rest in the truth of Psalm 33:20–22.

“We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield.”

Those aren’t just nice words—they’re a promise. God’s protection, His help, and His love are constants you can count on, even when life changes around you.

So, wherever you’re heading today—whether it’s a busy day at work, a quiet drive, or a list of things that feel impossible—go with hope. Because the same God who shields you also sustains you.

Our hope isn’t fragile when it’s placed in the hands of a faithful God.