In times like these, the easiest thing in the world is to give in to despair and bitterness. 

It is both reasonable and understandable to be angry and frustrated at the way things are going in the world.  All is not well. But somehow it is.

 How can I say such a thing?

We are still here.  We have friends and we are a family. We are a community.  Even as we are scattered, we remain connected, and God is present with us.  Our needs are met.  We will be alright.

No matter the present crisis, this too shall pass.  As we draw near to God, brothers and sisters, and hold on to one another, we will be alright!

In Psalm 137, the writer laments the torment and suffering God’s people are enduring in Babylon.  He asks the question, ‘How can we sing in this strange land?’  

I can imagine our ancestors saying the same words.  I join in the lament as I see the suffering that persists all around.  But lament is not the last word.  While our grief is necessary and understandable, our sorrows will not endure.  God is present with us and joy comes!  Strikingly and surprisingly, stubborn hope will disrupt our despair and joy comes! We will be alright!

Psalm 138 opens with these words:

¹  I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise;

²  I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things

your name and your word.

³  On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. 

Psalm 138:1-3 

Be encouraged, family! On the day we call, God answers and restores our strength! We will be alright!

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam

When I get lost, the last thing I need to do is to try to go fast. It induces more anxiety, and in most circumstances, it takes me further away from where I’m supposed to be.  There’s nothing more worrisome for me than the notion of speeding when I don’t know where I am going.

As a father, I’ve noticed that when my kids thought they knew what I was asking them to do they would begin to move before I finished giving them instructions. On rare occasions things worked out, but in many situations, we would end up having to start over again and I’d end up repeating myself.

I can’t be too hard on them, though, especially when I look at my own life.  The times I thought I knew what the LORD was up to, only to discover that I was off track or simply out of order are too numerous to count! 

I can only imagine how God feels when we listen poorly, move rashly, and  jump to conclusions that leave us lost and far from His intended plans and destination for us! And then for us, as a consequence we just end up frustrated, confused, and disappointed.

The message for today is simple.

Stand still.  Discipline yourself to listen carefully for the voice of the Spirit, turn down the noise and distractions, and then wait for God’s direction.

Being still allows us to get our bearings and to reorient ourselves so that we can move faithfully forward.

Are you wondering what your next move should be, anxious about the future, trying to figure out which way you should go? 

Stand still.  Listen carefully.  Pay attention to signs around you, and slow down!  

Pray this Psalm with me:

⁴  Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. ⁵ Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.  

Psalm 25:4-5

For you, LORD, I wait…

Good Morning, I love you all!

ihs,

just adam