Our Hope is in the Lord Psalm 71:5 - Master's Hand Collection

In this Psalm 71:5 Devotional, we’ll discover why Our Hope is in the Lord! As we open the Holy Bible, we’ll see how this verse points us to God’s faithfulness and reminds us that real hope is found in Him alone. We’ll look at the meaning of this encouraging verse, learn from David’s trust in God, and uncover the great things He has planned for everyone who puts their confidence in Him.

We all have hopes and dreams. And we expect the goals we set for ourselves to work out exactly as we plan. Sometimes they do, and we can celebrate our accomplishments. But other times, life gets in the way of our best-laid plans.

We get up every day, go to work, and take care of our families. We’re just going through the motions as the hopes and dreams we started with slowly fade away. Until one day, we find ourselves wondering, is this all there is in life?

I know how it feels to have your hopes and dreams crushed under the weight of life’s demands. A few years ago, I set out to accomplish a huge life goal. I put everything I had into it, and I truly believed it would change my career and my family’s future.

I was completely invested in it, both financially and emotionally. But no matter how hard I worked, it just didn’t happen. I was devastated and became disillusioned with the work I was doing. I felt like a total failure who had let my family down. Try as I might, I couldn’t understand what I’d done wrong.

The problem wasn’t the work I was doing or the amount of time I’d invested in it. It was who I was counting on to see the project through. I was relying on myself and my abilities instead of relying on God.

The solution to my problem was simple… I needed to put my hope and trust in God and what He wanted for my future! And when I began to put my hope in God, He led me in a completely new direction. One full of opportunities to serve Him that I never thought possible. It may be a different life than what I had planned, but it is a better life than I could ever imagine.

God’s Word: Our Hope and Strength

When life feels uncertain, the one thing we can always count on is the strength of the Lord God. His promises remind us that our hope doesn’t rest on what we see around us, but on the unshakable truth of His Word.

Through God’s renewing Word, we find encouragement for today and confidence for tomorrow. Each verse speaks life into weary hearts, lifting us up and pointing us back to the solid foundation of our faith… our hope in Him.

What is the Meaning of Psalm 71:5?

For You are my hope, O Lord God;
You are my trust from my youth.

Psalm 71:5 NKJV

Psalm 71:5 is a powerful reminder that our hope and confidence are not found in ourselves, but in God alone. In the book of Psalms, we often see the writers turn to the Lord in times of trouble, declaring Him to be their rock, refuge, and salvation. Here, the author of Psalm 71 looks back over his life and proclaims that even from his earliest days, he has trusted in a faithful God who has never let him down.

The meaning of Psalm 71:5 is both personal and universal. Personally, it calls us to remember how God has carried us from a young age, guiding and protecting us through life’s ups and downs. Universally, it points to the truth that in every generation, a true believer can confidently say, “My hope is in the Lord.”

In the Old Testament, hope wasn’t just wishful thinking… it was a deep assurance that the Lord would keep His promises. Today, when we read this verse, we can hold on to that same truth. No matter how tough it gets, the strength of the Lord God is enough to see us through, and His promises give us boldness to face tomorrow.

Our Hope is Not in This World

David’s prayer in Psalm 71 makes it clear that our hope doesn’t come from material things, the perfect career, a dream home, or a big bank account. These are worldly things and not heavenly treasures worth possessing.

And when we put our hope in the world and what it provides, we’re hoping in ourselves and trusting in our ability to make something happen. When we do that, we’re essentially saying to God, “I don’t need you, I can do it on my own.”

Thinking we don’t need God only sets us up for a fall. Because by hoping in our abilities, we deny ourselves the opportunity to see the goodness of God’s plan in action. And we miss out on the many blessings He has in store for us.

God is Our Hope

So, if our hope is not in this world or in ourselves, how do we find hope when we need it the most?

This scripture from Psalm 62 tells us exactly where hope comes from…

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.

Psalm 62:5-6 New Living Translation

Hope in God is different from hope in ourselves. It is grounded in His truth and faithfulness to us.

This kind of hope is a concrete confidence in God’s ability to make His will for our life happen.

When we surrender ourselves to God’s will and put our hope in Him, we no longer need to rely on our abilities. We can trust that God has our best future in mind, and He will lead us into it with faith and confidence in His abilities.

When the storms of life feel overwhelming, God becomes our rock of refuge, a safe place where we can rest. In Him, we find both the strength to endure the hard times and the courage to trust in His promises for tomorrow.

God Has Been Our Hope from the Beginning

From the very start of our lives, God has been with us. In our youthful days, He was already leading, protecting, and teaching us to trust Him. And His care doesn’t end there… He walks with us through our older years too, showing us His faithfulness in every season.

Yet you are he who took me from the womb;
you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts.
On you was I cast from my birth,
and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Psalm 22:9-10 ESV

This verse reminds us that God is not just a part of one stage of life, He’s with us from our very first cry, through our gray hairs and wrinkles, and all the way to eternity. And He calls us to pass on that same hope to the next generation. What a blessing it is to know that our story of trusting God can point others to His love and faithfulness, too.

Different Ways God Gives Us Hope

As a young person, it’s easy to see how God begins writing His story of hope in our lives. And the beautiful truth is that He continues to guide us all the way through our older years. From our first steps of faith to the wisdom that comes with age, God is faithful. Every single day, He meets us right where we are and gives us the hope we need to keep moving forward.

Our Heavenly Father has so many ways of reminding us that our hope is secure in Him. Sometimes it comes in big, life-changing moments, and other times it shows up in the small, everyday things we might overlook. Here are just a few of the different ways God gives us hope…

When our strength fails and we feel like we can’t take another step, God gives us a second wind to keep going.
Through the godly influence of family, friends, or mentors, He encourages us and points us back to His truth.
In times of weakness, He pours out so much mercy, lifting us up with His love and reminding us we’re never alone.
Even in the middle of trials, He fills us with peace that carries us forward and renews our confidence in His promises.

God’s hope is never far away… it’s always within reach, ready to steady our hearts and strengthen our faith.

My Hope is in the Lord, I will trust in Him

There are so many Bible Verses that speak to the blessings of placing our hope in God and trusting Him through thick and thin. This scripture paints a beautiful picture of the strength that comes when we can say… “my hope is in the Lord, I will trust in Him”.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

And whose hope is the Lord.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

The image of a tree planted by the raging river of life, yet dipping its roots into the water and receiving all it needs to survive, reminds us of the root of our hope, which is faith in God. Our trust in the Lord when hard times come and we’re tested in ways we never imagined, produces this lasting hope. And just like this tree, we’ll make it through the heat and drought and still produce fruit because our hope is in the Lord.

So, when the heat gets turned up and hope seems lost, remember God will sustain you and make you into the beautiful tree this scripture describes so well.

Jesus is Our Hope

Faith in Jesus is the essential element of a hope that never fades. He’s the very reason we can hold on with confidence, because without Him, there is no true hope at all.

Here’s a perfect explanation of how Jesus is our hope…

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 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, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV

God sent His Son, Jesus, to this earth not only to give us hope but to be hope Himself. Through His sacrifice, we have been given the promise of eternal salvation, a gift that secures our future and anchors our hearts in God’s love.

That means Jesus is our living hope! In Him, we have forgiveness, salvation, and a living hope that can never be taken away. And because He is our living hope, we have an inheritance waiting for us in heaven where we will share forever in the victory of our sovereign Lord. When we call on Jesus’ name, we are reminded that our hope is not temporary but everlasting, rooted in His power and faithfulness.

Praise God for our Lord Jesus Christ, our Living Hope!

Hope for Our Times

In our troubled times, hope is a fleeting feeling that only comes around every now and then.

But that’s okay because God understands how it feels when the hopes and dreams we have for ourselves fall flat. And as faithful servants of God, we don’t fall into a dark abyss of hopelessness. Instead, we fall into the light of our Heavenly Father’s arms.

This is where hope for our times is found… The firm foundation of our faith and trust that God has our future in the palm of His hand!

God’s Hand and Our Hope

We all have times when we feel hopeless, but we can take comfort in knowing that God is holding us close. His hand is always near, guiding us in the right direction and giving us strength.

Even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:10 NIV

No matter where life takes us, we can trust that God’s hand is always there to lead and sustain us. His presence reminds us of the greatness of God, who never leaves His children wandering alone. When we feel weak or have doubt, His right hand becomes our strong refuge, holding us steady and giving us the hope we need to face each new day.

Bible Verse about Hope for the Future

In this Psalm 71 devotional, we’ve seen how God’s saving Word gives us hope. His promises remind us that our lives are secure in His hands, no matter what trials or disappointments we face. And as we trust Him with both today and tomorrow, we can rest in the assurance that He has already prepared the way ahead. I’ll leave you with this last thought…

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Whatever may come our way, we can be sure of this. We have a loving Heavenly Father who is always willing to hear us when we cry out to Him, support us when we seek His will, and give us hope for the future.

When we look back at David’s life, we see a man who is very much like us. He faced trials, fears, and enemies on every side, yet he always returned to God for the hope he needed. Just like David, we make God our place of refuge… whether we’re full of joy or weighed down by struggles, and find the safety and peace we long for.

God’s plans are good, His promises are sure, and His hand will never let you go. That is why you can move forward with confidence, trusting that He holds your future and fills it with hope.

May you be blessed by placing your hope and trust in God! And in knowing, Our Hope is in the Lord!