Hope For The Needy

• Is there someone in your life who is in need of hope? Describe a way that you could share hope with that person.

• What does it mean to be totally dependent on God?

But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.
Psalm 9:18

When we hear the term “needy,” we probably think of the neediest people in our world, those who are hungry, homeless, or victims of disaster. The word “afflicted” refers to people who are suffering from circumstances such as violence, sickness, or poverty.

We all know of people who are needy and afflicted. And though this verse probably makes us think of others, at some point we too have been or will be needy or afflicted. What David is really talking about here are people who are completely dependent on God to meet their needs.

And God does not forget these people. He never will. People who are suffering because of circumstances in this life have every reason to hope in God. He promises to honor that hope and to take care of and meet the needs of those who love him.

When we are needy and afflicted, we can have hope in our God who will never forget us. And when we encounter others who are needy and afflicted, we can share this hope with them.

PRAYER
Dear God, thank you for giving hope to the needy and afflicted. Thank you for giving hope to those who believe in you. Please help us to remember this hope and give us opportunities to share it with others. Amen.