I have several friends and some of the church family dealing with heavy loads.  The hits just keep on coming.  Relationship issues, health of children and parents- the list could go on.  Then I read Ps. 43 this morning and thought of all of them.  Verse 5 of that Psalm reads:  Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (ESV)

In times of despair what is often lacking is hope.  The Psalmist crys out for hope in the Almighty.  That’s my prayer for hurting friends- that God would fill them with hope, hope in His Sovereign, gracious, covenantal faithfulfulness.