HOPE BEYOND HARDSHIP

JULY 1

Psalm 129

Psalm 129:1-2, “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”—let Israel now say—“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me.”

Psalm 129 speaks powerfully to the afflictions endured by Israel—from their early days of slavery in Egypt to the many times they were oppressed by surrounding nations. The psalmist uses vivid and graphic imagery to describe this suffering: “The plowers plowed on my back; they made their furrows long” (Psalm 129:3). It’s a striking picture of deep, repeated wounds—of prolonged severe pain. Yet, in the face of this painful history, the psalmist confidently declares, “They have not prevailed against me” (Psalm 129:2). This victory was not due to Israel’s strength, but to God’s faithful deliverance. The cords of the wicked—whatever they use to bind, oppress, or control—do not endure. God cuts them. For all who belong to Him, this psalm serves as a powerful reminder: affliction may come, but it does not have the final word. God’s faithfulness ensures that His people are never ultimately overcome (Romans 8:37).

As pilgrims made their way to Jerusalem for the annual feasts, Psalm 129 was among the “Songs of Ascents” they sang along the journey. These were more than travel songs; they were expressions of identity, shared memories, and enduring hope. Recounting their history of suffering while drawing near to worship was a way to declare that God had been faithful through every trial. With each step toward the holy city, they remembered how He had delivered them time and again. Their journey became a living testimony that although they had suffered, they had not been defeated. In the act of worship, they proclaimed that the God who brought them through affliction was still leading them forward in hope.

That experience still speaks today. In a world broken by sin, affliction spreads like a virus—touching our lives in many ways. Yet Psalm 129 reminds us that we are not alone in our suffering, nor without hope. Just as God was faithful to His people in the past, He remains faithful now. When trials press hard, we can look back at His past deliverance to strengthen our faith in the present. As Paul wrote, “We were under great pressure… but this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us…and He will deliver us again” (2 Corinthians 1:8–10). Let that truth anchor your heart today.

“God never promises to remove us from our struggles. He does promise, however, to change the way we look at them.” — Chuck Swindoll

APPLICATION QUESTIONS: What past affliction or trial has God brought you through that you need to remember and thank Him for today? How can that memory strengthen your faith in what you’re facing now?

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Author: looking2jesus13

Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries. After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year. Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley. International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith. Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully. Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.

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