I woke up this morning feeling hopeful.

The good news is that I wake almost every morning feeling hopeful. Today I feel hopeful for a number of reasons.

In Louisiana, where we have suffered mightily from Covid-19 and death, the number of new infections is going down. Yesterday, the number was lower than in several days with just over 300 new infections. Unfortunately, the death rate continued to be very high.

I am also hopeful for the reopening of our economy. The President has been speaking of that for days and our Governor mentioned that we might be able to begin Phase One of our reopening May 1. For the first time, we’ve started planning how we might begin the process of re-gathering the church in the church’s building.

All of those were hopeful signs, but my hope–and yours–does not come from the circumstances of the day. My hope comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

I love Psalm 121. It’s only eight verses, but it is a power packed eight verses.

The Psalm begins with a question and an answer: “Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Then for six verses the Psalmist gives us the wonderful reasons for hope–the Lord watches over His people. He guides and protects. He watches over your life.

The Psalm ends with wonderful words of hope and protection. In a day in which our coming and going are filled with anxiety and danger, God speaks to remind us that “The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and for evermore” (Psalm 121:8, RSV).

That’s why I am hopeful. I pray that you will be hopeful in the same way.