Hope From Ashes

Read: Psalm 20; Judges 9:7-15; 1 John 2:18-28

Life often feels like a battlefield. Whether it’s personal struggles, relational tensions, health crises, or unexpected losses, we all encounter moments when our plans crumble into ashes. When this happens, it is easy to feel like giving up. As followers of Christ, we are meant to be resilient in these moments. When life feels like it is crumbling around my I find it encouraging to read scriptures that speak of the power of God. One of these is Psalm 20. Psalm 20 speaks powerfully into our lives, offering a beacon of hope rising from the dust of defeat and despair. 

Psalm 20 begins with a heartfelt prayer: “May the Lord answer you when you are in distress” (v.1). This is not just a distant hopebut a confident plea rooted in God’s character—the God of Jacob who has a history of rescuing His people. The psalm reminds us that God is not indifferent to our struggles. God listens, God remembers, and God responds. 

So often we build up a sense of security around ourselves by investing our hope in human ingenuity and strength. We have a robust insurance industry in our country as we seek to insure ourselves from the possibility of calamity striking, but so often when calamity strikes those us who are leaning on these human structures of self-reliance find ourselves adrift in the calamity. 

Even if our preparations work as planned, we oftentimes find ourselves displaced and facing a season of hardship. Verse 7 of Psalm 20 draws a sharp contrast between the fleeting security of worldly power and the enduring strength found in God: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Chariots and horses represent human strength, the best that ancient armies could offer. Today, they might symbolize our careers, finances, relationships, or even our own abilities. These things can falter. They can burn to ashes. 

However, our hope does not rest on what can be lost. Our hope rises from ashes because it is anchored in the love and provision of God. When everything else falls apart, God remains steady, sovereign, and strong. 

The psalm ends with a victorious declaration: “We rise up and stand firm” (v.8). This is not because of our own strength but because of God’s sustaining grace. Even when life feels like ruins around us, God lifts us up, sets our feet on solid ground, and renews our spirits with hope. 

This passage also teaches us the power of communal faith and intercession. The people prayed for their king, recognizing that their leader’s success was tied to God’s favor. In the same way, we are called to support one another in prayer, lifting each other up when the weight of life becomes overwhelming. Hope grows stronger when shared within a community of faith. 

Hope from ashes is not just about surviving hardships; it’s about discovering a deeper, more resilient faith that flourishes even in the darkest times. It’s about learning to sing songs of victory while the battle still rages, knowing that our God is with us. God sustains us, delivers us, and brings us through the ashes to hope and life. 

Reflection Questions: 

1. What “chariots and horses” have you been tempted to trust in during difficult times?
2. How have you experienced God’s faithfulness when everything else seemed to fall apart?
3. What does it mean for you personally to rise and stand firm in God’s strength today?

Prayer: 

Lord, when my life feels like ashes, remind me that my hope is not in what I can see or control.  My hope is in You—the God who hears, helps, and holds me. Teach me to trust not in fleeting things but in Your eternal name. Amen.