The Hope Series – May God preserve us
The lecture revolves around divine protection, and how a person lives with assurance when he believes that his life is in God’s hands and that His care surrounds him. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III emphasizes that the words of the Psalms about God’s protection fill the heart with hope, because God protects the person from evil and preserves his soul, his going out, and his coming in. He presents many biblical examples of this protection, including Moses the Prophet, Jonah, the Three Holy Youths, Daniel, David, Job, and Isaac, to show that the power of danger does not cancel God’s work and care. He also explains that the problem is often that a person sees the tribulation and the problem, but does not see God who is present and able to save and protect.
Spiritual Message
The main spiritual message is that faith in divine protection leads to peace and resists fear, while doubting God’s care is connected with weakness of faith. God is the Almighty, and He does not abandon His children, but surrounds them with His care even in the midst of trials and tribulations. Divine protection is not only physical, but is also spiritual protection of the soul from falling and being lost, and protection of the path toward eternity. God works for this protection through many means, including grace, repentance, the angels, the work of the Holy Spirit, the conscience, the commandments, prayer, and faith. Therefore, the believer can face difficult circumstances with hope, knowing that the trial itself remains under God’s authority and within His limits.
Educational Lesson
The lecture teaches the believer not to separate the existence of problems from the existence of God’s care; just as there are tribulations, there are also divine help and divine solutions. It explains that the Psalms and prayer strengthen faith and continually remind the person of God’s presence and protection, and therefore it calls for memorizing the Psalms and living by their words. It also teaches that divine protection does not mean carelessness, recklessness, or deliberately exposing oneself to dangers, but a person should act wisely while relying on God. True faith does not mean putting God to the test, but trusting Him while living a conscious and responsible spiritual life.
Practical Application
The practical application is for the believer to begin his day and his movements with prayer, asking for God’s protection for himself and his family, and relying on the Psalms instead of surrendering to fear and anxiety. When a problem comes, he should not look at it alone, but should remember at the same time God’s care, power, and help. He should also maintain his relationship with God through prayer, faith, the commandment, and repentance, because all these are means that work in his life for his spiritual protection. In this way, a person lives in peace and hope, without recklessness or carelessness, trusting that God is present in his life and that he also has a spiritual responsibility in order to continue and live in this protection.
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