Finding Real Hope

In a world where evil often feels loud and relentless, how do we hold on to hope?

Psalm 14 gives us a powerful answer—but maybe not in the way we’d expect.

When David writes in verses 5–7, he doesn't describe a miraculous deliverance. He doesn’t say, “And then God showed up, defeated the wicked, and everything was fine.” There’s no resolution to the problem yet. But what is there is even more powerful: the promise of God’s presence and the certainty of His justice. Now that is real hope.

“For God is with the generation of the righteous… the Lord is his refuge… When the Lord restores the fortunes of His people…”(Psalm 14:5–7)

Not “if”—when. David points us toward a future he knows is certain because he knows who God is.

Close Doesn’t Count

Growing up, I loved playing sports—basketball, soccer, and later in life, disc golf. Anyone who’s played pickup basketball knows the frustration of just missing a shot. Inevitably, someone would remind me, “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.”

In basketball, it doesn’t matter how close your shot is—if it doesn’t go in, it doesn’t count.

The same is true when it comes to meeting God’s standard. James 2:10 tells us that if we keep the entire law but stumble at just one point, we’re guilty of breaking all of it.

We can’t just be close to righteous. We all fall short—every one of us. And because of that, we’re left condemned by our sin, stuck in spiritual slavery, unable to redeem ourselves.

But There’s Good News

Paul, in Romans 3, explains that the righteousness of God—once completely out of reach for us—is now made available through faith in Jesus Christ.

That’s not because we earn it. It's not because we deserve it. It’s because of God's grace.

Jesus lived the perfect life we couldn’t, died the death we deserved, and rose again so that anyone who puts their trust in Him is declared righteous—justified—before God.

Paul uses the word “propitiation,” which means Jesus satisfied the wrath of God for our sins. Because of this, God remains just (He punishes sin), and He also becomes our justifier (He declares us righteous). This is the miracle of the gospel.

From Fools to Followers

Psalm 14 opens with a sobering line: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” That’s where every one of us would be without Christ—rejecting God, living by our own rules, unaware of the spiritual danger we’re in.

But the moment we place our faith in Jesus, everything changes.

We move from darkness into light. From condemned to redeemed. From foolish to forgiven.

This transformation doesn’t make us better than others—it makes us deeply grateful. We didn’t find God because we were wise or good; we were found by God because He is merciful and loving.

Hope That Endures Evil

So how do we live in a world still filled with injustice, violence, and rejection of God?

We remember what David knew: God is with the righteous. He is near to the poor, the broken, the hurting. He is our refuge.

Even when evil seems to have the upper hand—like with Haman in the book of Esther—it’s not the end of the story. If Haman had realized who he was standing against, he never would’ve dared to oppose God or His people.

No one can stand against God and win.

And that’s why we have hope. David writes not, “If God restores…” but “When the Lord restores the fortunes of His people.”

It’s coming. Victory is certain. Restoration is guaranteed.

Rejoice, Even Now

For those who know Jesus, we don’t just wait for that future with crossed fingers. We live in hope today. We rejoice now because we know how the story ends.

Yes, the world is broken. Yes, evil is real. But God is on the throne. He has saved us, and He will make all things right.

That’s a promise you can stand on, no matter what’s going on in your life today.