Much can happen in one month. September 2008 once again proved to me that the 'health & wealth' doctrines so often preached aren't based in the Bible or the real world.
I don't have the usual bounce in my step these days. Praise God that as a follower of Jesus, my hope and and joy do not depend on circumstance. The passage preached at our church last Sunday was Psalm 46; and the title was "A Mighty Fortress is our God". It summed up September for me:
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. 10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." 11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
I must admit, I wasn't fully listening to our pastor. Instead I felt like I was reading the headlines from the past month. There have been a few earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanic hiccups around the world a lot lately, so verses 2 & 3 were like watching the news. Nations are in an uproar (thanks to the USA's economic drama and our presence on the world stage of war), kingdoms fail (and so do kings), it just goes on.
But on a personal level, I experienced so many "S's". Spring Slowly Seeping in, Sickness, Sadness and Sorrow... I sat and watched the memorials for September 11th as I fought a nasty flu. A few days later I got the news that my sister (in law & in Christ) had died suddenly. That news sucked the wind out of my lungs and broke my heart as the sense of deep loss to my brother and nephews arose within me. Thank you to all who have prayed for Bruce, Sean and TJ.
Even though verse 5 is about the city of God... as I sat in church on Sunday it spoke dearly to my heart: "God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day." --- What an encouragement. God IS within His children, and though we stumble we will not fall. He will help us every single day... He truly is our fortress. Though sickness and sorrow and tragedy and disaster and calamity pound at us like an ocean tempest, GOD is our fortress. The waves and winds break on Him as He shields us from their ultimate destruction.
With all that has changed in the world in just one month, with all that is impacting each of us every day - it is of great comfort that our hope is sure, that God is never early or late, His will is always on time. I may wish things were different, but I find comfort in the fact that God's plan does not bow and bend to my foolish and weak will. He is our fortress. May we run to Him and find that the joy if the Lord is our strength. More updates to come...
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