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When enemies capture soldiers in war, those POW’s need coping strategies to survive torment. One method they often use is focusing, not on the past or their surroundings, but on the future. They create positive mental exercises, make up stories, and remind themselves that neither their country nor God has abandoned them. They cling to the hope that their release will come. It was faith in God that kept the psalmist from giving up in the midst of his trouble. He prayed: “From the depths of despair, O LORD, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O LORD. Pay attention to my prayer. LORD if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness that we might learn to fear you. I am counting on the LORD; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.” So like the psalmist, when we find ourselves in seemingly impossible situations, we can encourage ourselves. If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we can count on God—His love, presence, power, and wisdom. And though He may seem to tarry, we recall what God told Habakkuk, “Wait, I will not be late.”
