Monday, March 28, 2011

An ever present help in times of trouble...

O my people, trust in him at all times.  Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:8)
Today I am burdened by divorce, death, unplanned pregnancy, grief, depression, cancer, persecution, and financial problems... and those are just some of the people on my prayer list.  When I turn on the news I see war, destruction, homelessness, corruption, rape, and nuclear disaster.  And I wonder,  how am I to live in this "adulterous and sinful generation"?  How do I keep from being overwhelmed by what is going on around me?  Where do I run, when everything around me is falling apart?
Psalm 62 says, "Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him."  My hope is not in some vague idea that "everything will turn out okay."  My hope is not in the government to fix everything.  I cannot trust in my bank account to sustain me.  The people around me may not always be there.  I may not always be healthy.
Leaning on those things (good thoughts, health, money, government, other people) is like leaning on a spider's web.  Such is the destiny of all who forget God... What he trusts in is fragile; what he relies on is a spider's web.  He leans on it, but it does not hold. (Job 8:13-15)  If I lean on those things, I will fall.  So what can I trust in?
Trust in the Lord (Psalm 4:5)
Trust in God's unfailing love (Psalm 13:5)
Trust in his holy name (Psalm 33:21)
Trust in his word (Psalm 119:42)
Do not be afraid... for the Lord your God is among you, and he is a great and awesome God. (Deut. 7:21)


(Lord, I am overwhelmed by the pain and suffering around me.  Where can I turn?  Only to you.)
He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon."  Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus. (Rev. 22:20)

3 comments:

julie said...

Amen! and Amen!

Lauren said...

Marlo, I have been feeling the same way! So many hurting people. Thanks for the reminder. Just read Ps 62- so needed it today!!! He is our refuge!!!

Pamela said...

So good I'm going to use it when I fill in for our S.S. teacher tomorrow. I needed some last-minute inspiration!