In Psalm 33, the author helps us refocus our hope and our assurance not in our own strength, but in our heavenly King's strength. Regardless of the resources, training, and energy that we bring to the table, we can't accomplish much without the Lord. Similarly, our insecurities, fears, and our weaknesses are insignificant when compared to our wise, powerful Heavenly Father who calls us to do hard things in His name.

God watches those who hope in him (v. 18) and promises to "deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine" (v. 19). We can wait on Him because He is our help and our shield, steadfast and trustworthy. The Lord's promises and faithfulness are on display throughout all of His word and throughout the stories of people around us, so we can look up from our fears and see that He is faithful and present.

This Psalm reminds us that when (not if!) we are surrounded by things that threaten to steal our hope and our joy, we can trust in the Lord because He has proven again and again to be our rescue (v. 18-20).

When I first arrived on the field, all of my deepest, chronic insecurities flared up with a vengeance. I felt young, inexperienced, ill-equipped, and overwhelmed by culture shock and the unknown. I jumped into the ministry work, white-knuckling the hope that while I had no idea what He had planned, if God had called an insignificant person like me to this ministry, He must have some sort of purpose in store.
Perhaps you can relate.

In these moments, we can sit and wait on the Lord. We should remind ourselves of His character, of His promises, and His exclamations of love over us. We will be comforted because He is strong and we are not. And we ought to take the time to remind each other of the great God that we serve and worship.