Psalm 31 22:23-24 - Love the Lord, all you his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!

This Bible passage from Psalm 31:22-24 encourages us to have hope and courage because God preserves and strengthens those who wait on Him. The passage starts by praising God for hearing and answering the psalmist's cries for help. It then calls all of God's saints to love Him, because He preserves the faithful. Though the proud face repayment for sin, the passage ends by urging the reader to "be strong" and "take courage" as they wait on the Lord.

This passage powerfully captures a key element of the Christian life - hope in God's preservation and deliverance, even in the midst of trials. The psalmist models crying out to God for help in the midst of distress. God hears, answers, and delivers him, showing His steadfast love. This gives the psalmist, and all saints, reason to praise and love God. He preserves and strengthens the faithful who wait on Him in hope and humility. In contrast, the proud face repayment for sin. This is a warning to avoid pride and self-reliance, which leads to destruction. But for the humble who hope in God's mercy and timing, there is assurance of God's strength and courage to endure. This hope fuels endurance through even the most difficult seasons of life and spiritual attack. It is a hope with backbone that stands firm on the character and promises of God. No matter what storms we face, we can be anchored in hope by God's proven track record of hearing, answering, delivering, and preserving His people. He is worthy of our love and trust. His strength and courage will infuse our weary hearts when we wait on Him in desperate dependence. He will bring us through to the other side where we can look back with gratitude on His faithfulness.

Father God, we praise and love You for who You are - our steadfast help and deliverer. Thank You for preserving and repaying justly. Forgive us for the times we have relied on our own strength and resources instead of hoping fully in Your unfailing love. Teach us what it means to wait, trust, and hope in You alone. Give us courage to face every struggle in the power of Your Spirit, confident that You hear our cries and will answer in Your perfect timing. Strengthen our hearts as we wait faithfully on You each day. In Jesus' Name, Amen.