When I was 16 years old, I was involved in a ‘street reach’ event in Moira. My church, along with three other churches in the area, would spend the week serving the community in whatever way we could. One of those ways was by forming a choir that would visit the local care homes to sing for the residents, which was an absolute delight.

 

One song that was chosen for the choir to sing, and this was the first time I’d ever heard it, was ‘My Troubled Soul’ by Philippa Hanna. It has stuck with me and has frequently ‘popped’ into my head when I really needed its sweet words. It’s a song based on Psalm 42:5; “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.”

 

The lyrics read; “My troubled soul, why so weighed down? You weren't meant to bear this heavy load. So cast all your burdens upon the Lord. Jesus cares, He cares for you.”

 

How many times do we feel like our emotions and our minds run wild with irrational thoughts, worries, stresses and doubts? Our very soul can feel like it’s against us, just as the Psalmist wrote, “why are you in turmoil within me?” Often, we need to tell ourselves what is true so that our hearts can settle.

 

David said ‘Hope in God’, and today we can say ‘Hope is Here’. Christ, the promised Messiah, the One who would take the punishment for our sins and shortcomings, came to earth, gave Himself as a sacrifice, and rose again. We have hope – Christ has already won the battle against all that seeks to bring us down.