“We put our hope in the LORD. He is our help and our shield.” — Psalm 33:20 (NLT)
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.” — Jude 21 (NLT)
Hoping in the Lord is an active choice. In our fast-paced world, we have grown accustomed to immediate results, instant downloads, and same-day deliveries. Yet the Psalmist presents a different kind of waiting—a deliberate placing of our hope in the Lord.
Psalm 33:20 reminds me that putting my hope in God is not passive resignation. It is an intentional redirection of my expectations, knowing that my help and protection come from Him. When I choose to hope in the Lord, I acknowledge that God’s timing is perfect, even when it does not match my preferred schedule.
Jude 21 adds another vital instruction for our journey of faith: “keep yourselves in the love of God.” This phrase suggests that remaining in God’s love requires my participation. Like a plant that must stay in sunlight to flourish, I must position myself daily to receive and remain in God’s love. As I do this, I look forward with anticipation to Christ’s mercy that leads me to eternal life.
When these two sacred verses intertwine, they reveal the harmony at the heart of Christian living—trust and love that sustain my journey of faith. Psalm 33 teaches me to trust God’s protection and help, while Jude 21 calls me to actively stay connected to the source of that help—God’s love. One verse speaks to God’s outward action toward me, as my help and shield, while the other speaks to my inward connection with Him, remaining in His love. Together, they create a complete picture of my relationship with God: trusting His protection while deepening my closeness with Him.
This combination of trusting God’s protective care while actively remaining in His love creates a faith that can stand firm against life’s greatest storms and challenges. It is not enough to simply believe that God will protect me; I must also nurture my relationship with Him. Spiritual practices are tools that help maintain my connection to Christ. As I abide in Him through these practices, I begin to produce good fruit. Yet it is not enough to focus only on spiritual discipline; I must also trust God’s active help in my daily life.
Today, wherever I find myself—in seasons of waiting or moments of anxiety—I remember that true faith reaches forward in hope while remaining rooted in love, hoping in God’s promises while abiding in His presence. May my faith be strengthened, my hope renewed, and my heart ever open to the unfailing love that carries me toward eternity with Christ.