Still I Hope, Still I Praise

But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more.

Psalm 71:14

Hope is one of the most powerful things we can hold on to in life. It is what keeps us going even when we face uncertainty, pain, and trials. Yet, hope is also one of the hardest things to maintain when life feels overwhelming. Sometimes, it seems easier to give in to doubt, to let fear take over, and to stop expecting better days ahead. But the psalmist in Psalm 71:14 makes a choice: he decides to hope continually—not just when things are easy, but at all times. And not only that, but he also chooses to praise God more and more.

This verse challenges us to shift our focus. Often, when we go through struggles, we tend to dwell on what is wrong, on the pain we feel, or on the things that seem impossible. But here, the psalmist shows us a different response. Instead of allowing his struggles to pull him into despair, he turns to God in hope and worship. He doesn’t just hold on to hope—he increases his praise.

I remember times in my own life when I felt like I was losing hope. There were moments when prayers seemed unanswered, when disappointments stacked up, and when I questioned if things would ever change. The weight of waiting, the sting of rejection, and the fear of the unknown made it hard to see beyond the present struggles. But looking back, I can see how God was still working. Even in the moments when I felt forgotten, He was moving in ways I could not yet see.

Maybe you are in a season where you feel stuck, where life is not going the way you expected, or where the pain feels unbearable. Perhaps you’ve been praying for a breakthrough but see no signs of change. In those moments, Psalm 71:14 reminds us that hope is not based on what we see—it is based on who God is. He is faithful. He is unchanging. He is working, even when we don’t understand how.

When we choose to hope continually, we declare that we trust in God’s timing, His plans, and His love for us. And when we praise Him more and more, even in the struggle, we shift our perspective from our problems to His power. Worship is a powerful weapon against discouragement. It reminds us that our circumstances do not define us—God’s promises do.

If you are in a difficult season right now, I encourage you: do not let go of hope. Even when the road is uncertain, even when the answers are delayed, even when the waiting feels endless—hold on. God is not finished yet. He is still writing your story. The struggles you face today will one day be testimonies of His faithfulness.

The enemy wants nothing more than for you to lose hope, to believe the lie that things will never change. But God calls you to believe in His goodness, even when life is hard. He calls you to trust that He is making a way, even when you cannot yet see it. He calls you to hope continually—not just sometimes, but always. And as you hope, let your heart be filled with praise, because God is already working on your behalf.

No matter what you are going through, hold on to this truth: God is not finished with your story. Keep hoping, keep praising, and keep trusting—because He is faithful, and He will come through for you.