In fact, that feeling is deeply woven into the story of the Jewish people. It's a feeling the Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic commentaries on the Book of Psalms, tackles head-on. This particular passage, from Midrash Tehillim 40, revolves around Psalm 31:25, "Be strong, and let your heart take courage; all you who hope in the Lord."

But let’s back up. The Midrash begins by quoting Isaiah 25:9: "And it shall be said in that day: 'Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us.'" The message is pretty clear: waiting isn't passive. It's an active choice, a declaration of faith. It’s an acknowledgement that even in the face of uncertainty, we believe in something bigger than ourselves.

The Midrash then makes a powerful statement: "The only thing that Israel has in their hand is hope, so that they may be redeemed in reward for their waiting." Think about that. Through centuries of exile, persecution, and hardship, what has kept the Jewish people going? Hope. The unwavering belief that things will get better, that redemption is possible. That hope, the Midrash suggests, is itself a powerful force, a key to unlocking that very redemption.

And it's not just about national redemption. It applies to us individually too. Lamentations 3:25 tells us, "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him." But waiting can be excruciating, right? We get impatient. We start to doubt.

That’s where the Midrash anticipates our fears. Lest you say, as Jeremiah 8:20 puts it, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved," the text urges us to persevere in our hope. Even when it feels like all is lost, even when it seems like our prayers are going unanswered, we must continue to hope in the Lord.

So, how do we do that? How do we cultivate this kind of unwavering hope?

The Midrash points to David. "David hoped in me and I answered him. Therefore, I have hoped, O Lord." David, the shepherd-king, the warrior-poet, knew hardship. He faced enemies, both external and internal. He made mistakes. But he never lost his faith. His life, as recounted throughout the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), serves as an example of how faith in God gives strength, and how hope is always a viable path.

The final line, "Therefore, I have hoped, O Lord," is attributed to David. It’s a personal testament, a declaration of his own experience. It’s an affirmation that hope is not just a theoretical concept, but a lived reality. It's a practice that yields results.

Ultimately, the Midrash Tehillim is reminding us that hope is not a passive emotion. It's a powerful act of faith, a way of connecting with something greater than ourselves. It's a practice that requires courage and strength, especially when things are tough. But as the Midrash tells us, it’s precisely in those moments of waiting, of hoping, that we find the greatest potential for redemption. So, be strong, take heart, and keep hoping. What else do we really have?