This week is brought to you by the letter f, and the word fight. At dinner, a friend was describing this last year — physical challenges, hormonal imbalances, and unexpected despair as she had never experienced. This outgoing and optimistic woman was on empty 🪫.

As I was intently listening and not wanting to offer platitudes, I genuinely asked her, “What do you do with that? What now?” 

“I made the decision to fight for hope.” 

That was her declaration. That was her determination. She lacked inspiration or enthusiasm; however, she knew a faithful God had shown up before — and He would again. But she needed to be a participant in speaking to her soul.

Last week, we reflected on Psalm 43. Now, let's step back into Psalm 42.

[Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.]
Psalm 42v5

The year 1026 B.C. was not so different than 2026. Discouragement and depression were still common even among the people of God. 

When we're in a challenging day, week, or season - we tend to cope. We gravitate toward things of comfort - our fave Netflix shows, eating, drinking, sleeping — these become our drug of choice. In our misery and weariness, we like the way the pit feels - muddy, cold, enveloping. But the longer we stay there, the harder it is to get out. 

We take it easy when what we need is efficacy. We prefer lazy when what we need is life-giving. We settle for fleeting when what we need is fulfilling. We don't want to “work”. God does the work, right? (“Let go, and let God.”) But sometimes... most times... we need to fight 🥊. 

We need to fight to stay out of the pit. We need to armor up and war against powers and principalities. We need to tell our souls that our help comes from the Lord — not a box of cookies, not five episodes of Gilmore Girls, and not whatever excuse or compulsion or “go-to” that your flesh is craving. It will not satisfy.

fight for hope. And watch God fight for you.