It is hard to sound hopeful during times of great difficulty. Something about it always seems dishonest. And although a lot can be said for trying to remain hopeful when there is no hope left in you, it can quickly begin to feel tedious and false and can make you feel even more dejected than you did to begin with.
So much of how we experience approaching the divine is to do with our mindset. If we are dejected it is difficult to feel like your are in the presence of His great glory, bowing before His throne, pouring out your heart. Instead it begins to feel like you are in a small, dark, empty room, and every word you utter echoes back into your own ears. There is nobody there. No one is listening.
Take comfort in the fact that He is always there, whether your sense of Him is so faint as to be nonexistent, or you are overwhelmed by His very presence, He is there. Whether His glory envelopes and lifts you, or you feel it is masked by the looming shadow of your own hopelessness, He is there.
No matter how false or dishonest it may feel to keep reaching out your hand in the darkness, in hope, you must never stop, you must never give up, you must never lose faith. In the darkest hour and the loneliest place, He is there.
How great the coming glory! The glory of the Lord. What a celebration to be had. What a time to come. Such great news in a difficult world: our God reigns, in heaven and on earth. We have much to be thankful for and much to look forward to.
Let Your glory return oh Lord our God. Let Your name be magnified. Let the world know of Your great power. Reveal to them what we have always known to be true. In these times of the impossible, show Yourself. Let the truth of You be known and Your presence be felt. Amen.