You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, ‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’”

Psalm 89:3-4

I have memories of assembling our kid’s toys on Christmas Eve. I would just dive into the task, deciding to “figure it out as I go.” Who needs those instructions anyway? A few hours later, as frustration would set in and my patience got shorter I began turning into the Grinch! Finally, I would start rifling through the trash in search of the instructions, and despair would turn to hope!

Faced with life’s challenges, we often desire to “figure it out as we go” rather than turning to God. We like to turn to that which we can see, touch, handle or control to solve life’s challenges. Preferring to be self-reliant, we rely on our own resources, solutions or devices to solve our problems or meet our needs.

Thankfully, God provides hope as we rely on him to meet our needs. Long ago God promised he would be there for us when he said he would establish his throne through the lineage of David, which would be secure through all generations. Through this promise came Jesus Christ, and through Christ there is hope: “In his name the nations will put their hope” (Matthew 12:21).

As a Christian university, Fresno Pacific is a beacon of hope. We serve the heartland of California where agriculture, oil and land development generate significant wealth. Yet this same region lags much of the state in many socioeconomic, educational and environmental indicators. To meet these needs, our confidence is in Christ alone, and we rely on his power and resources to engage the cultures and serve the cities—to offer a hope and a future.

Heavenly Father, who has established the throne of Christ for all generations, we confess our dependence on you for all we need in this life and the next. Amen.