I have been thinking of the old hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” and especially about the words of the third verse:
“Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside.”
What a great reminder in these troubled times! Not only do we have forgiveness through Christ and the peace “not of this world” that Jesus gives us, we are also blessed with God’s presence through the Holy Spirit at all times and in all circumstances—our comforter and our guide to live as God wants us to. These are wonderful blessings that we need to be reminded of. But the words that have echoed in my mind lately are the words in the next line: “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.” We are living in a time of unprecedented crisis and fear. Strength for today is something we need. Hope for tomorrow is something we need. And these are blessings that we HAVE, as believers in Christ (with innumerable other blessings, as the song writer declares).
There are many, many verses that talk about God’s strength and the strength he gives. Look at just a few of these:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Ps. 46:1
“Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people, Blessed be God!” Ps 68:35
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Is. 40:31
“Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength.” Is. 45:24
“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” Ps. 105:4
The Bible repeatedly shows us that God gives us what is needed for each day on a daily basis. The Israelites were given manna each day as God provided for them in the wilderness. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” and told them not to worry about tomorrow because “sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matt. 6:34). When Moses was giving his final blessing to the tribes of Israel, one thing he said was, “As your days, so shall your strength be” (Deut. 33:25). The ISV renders this “May your strength be sufficient for each day you live.”
Strength for today may be exactly that…God supplying us to do what he wants us to do today and enabling us to trust him in the process. As God meets our needs today, that trust grows and enables us to have the “bright hope for tomorrow” that the writer refers to. I think the words are placed very deliberately. This isn’t hope for a bright tomorrow, but a bright hope for tomorrow. Our hope remains secure no matter what tomorrow brings, because it is placed on our unfailing God. Let’s read some verses about this hope:
“According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” 1 Pet. 1:3-4
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Heb. 6:19a (NIV)
“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.” Ps 42:5a
“And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” Ps. 39:7
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lam. 3:21
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.” Prov. 4:18
Yes, the hope that God has blessed us with is indeed a bright hope for tomorrow.
So, if you are feeling tired, overwhelmed, maybe discouraged… remember the blessings God has given us. Listen to the words of “Great is Thy Faithfulness” and pay special attention to the third verse. Then, thank God that he has given us strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, because He is faithful!
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