THE POWER OF HOPE

Almost every man can connect with the words expressed by the Psalmist in Psalm 42.

“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. My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.”  -Psalm 42:5-7 (ESV)

Men today face so many challenges. There are the expectations to perform, the pressures to live up to the portrayal of other men on social media, and all the demands of being a provider, husband, father, and leader. The perception is that we are managing these expectations well and we’re okay. However, on the inside of the man, turmoil is continually building.

A conversation is happening in our soul: 'Am I good enough? Did I make the right decision for myself or my family? When will things change? Am I really, okay?' As men, we struggle to live up to the expectations and demands that come with being a man.

Statistics show that nearly one in ten men experience depression or anxiety but less than half will receive treatment. And every year more than six million men are affected by depression.

Our world has created unrealistic expectations of a man and our attempts to fulfill these expectations bring another level of pressure for men.  

I love that the Psalmist is real about how men feel when things are tough. He acknowledges the turmoil and sadness he is feeling in his soul. Many men are struggling with depression and anxiety because they are not honest with themselves about how they are doing. And in their defense, a lot of men don’t even know they are depressed, they just keep pushing through. 

To experience the healing we need, we must first accept that it's okay to not be okay. When we acknowledge that things are not okay, we can more effectively assess how we got here and determine the steps needed to change.

As the psalmist is wrestling with the challenges in his life, he does something that every man must learn and practice, he declares hope in God and praises Him for it. Verse 5-6, “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation [6] and my God.” 

He does not wait for his situation to get better; he praises God from a place of uncertainty and struggle. Hope can be a powerful thing. It is mentioned 129 times in the bible, eighty-three alone in the New Testament. Hope is the adversary of shame and despair. It does not allow us to wallow in our past mistakes, poor decisions, or past hurts. Hope shakes us and opens our souls to the truth that things will not always be like this. God’s word tells us, ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.”

The space between hope and fulfillment is a challenging place to be in. But it is also the place where men build character and confidence in their faith in God. We learn that our hope is not in our careers or other people but in God.

We must also realize that community is crucial for a man. One of our sayings in Men’s Power Connect is, ‘Every man needs another man.” God never intended for any man to carry the weight of the world alone. Men need safe outlets so they can voice the unrest going on in their lives. Find trusted men that you can open up to about what is going on in your heart.

-       Proverbs 11:14 “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. (ESV)

We can place our unwavering hope in God, finding strength and peace through every challenge life presents. In the face of adversity, we are called to praise Him, trusting His guidance will lead us through.

As we face life's inevitable changes and uncertainties, it is crucial, for men to adopt a mindset of daily gratitude, prioritize self-care, and celebrate every victory, no matter how small. By doing so, we deepen our connection with God and ourselves, fostering resilience and a sense of purpose. It is in these moments of reflection and celebration that we grow stronger, both in faith and character.

Scripture references for this week’s Blog

Proverbs 11:14

“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” (ESV)

Romans 5:3–5

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (ESV)

Psalm 34:17–18

[17] “When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. [18] The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (ESV)