When Faith Faces Fear

“Life is Good” are the words beneath a happy face on a T-shirt. The moon-shaped circle with two slashes and a curvy mouth always seem to remind us of the importance of having fun and locking up moments of pleasure. We want to believe that “Life is Good!”

But is it? And when it isn’t, what are we to do?

Imagine a day that begins with a beautiful sunrise and soon after breakfast dark clouds filled with dreadful news bring some of life’s realities into sharp focus. Imagine a conversation with God that goes something like this: “You know, God, I do trust You and believe that You are concerned about me but that phone call informed me that I lost my job.” Or “My daughter has just confessed to being addicted to crack cocaine.” Or “My son got his girlfriend pregnant and they are juniors in high school.” Or “God my spouse left me for someone else!” Life happens. It did to David. It does to us.

God was David’s “rock,” his “strong fortress” and his “refuge.” Suddenly, life changed. He was “afflicted,” in “anguish” and about to be “ensnared by a trap that was set” for him by his friends. His “eyes and bones were weak,” he was a “dread to his friends” and his “name was being slandered.” Where’s your God, David?

Give up? No. He challenged the goodness of God and reminded Him that “I trust in You, O Lord. You are my God. Deliver me!” And God did. David challenges us to “Love the Lord because the Lord preserves the faithful. Be strong, take heart, and hope in the Lord!”

Prayer: Lord, give us a faith to exceed the obstacles of life that challenge Your goodness, greatness and grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 31:14 But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.” 

Last Words

The uncertainties of life always end with the certainty of death. We know it is there waiting for us. No one knows when their heart will stop. Yet, when the time comes, most individuals have a few last words.

Cardinal Borgia said, “I have provided in the course of my life for everything except death, and now, alas, I am to die unprepared.”

Tony Hancock, a British comedian said, “No one will even know I existed. Nothing to leave behind me. Nothing to pass on. Nobody to mourn me. That’s the bitterest blow of all.”

Elizabeth the First: “All my possessions for one moment of time.”

Phillip III, King of France: “What an account I shall have to give God. How I should like to live otherwise than I have lived.”

Voltaire, a religious skeptic said, “In twenty years Christianity will be no more. My single hand shall destroy the edifice it took twelve apostles to rear.” Some years later, Voltaire’s house was used by the Geneva Bible Society to print Bibles.

When Jesus died the words of Psalm 31:5 were on his lips, “Into Your hands, Father, I commit my spirit.” As He was ending His life’s work, hanging upon His cross and dying for our sins, He declared His faith, hope, trust and confidence in His Father. There was no fear, no regret, and no questions about life or death. Only the assurance that His spirit was in His Father’s hands.

Prayer: Father, may we face life and death, as Jesus did, knowing that we are secure because we trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 31:5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, LORD, my faithful God.

Forgetfulness

“Papa,” he asked in the innocent voice of a four-year-old, “how long will it take you to forget something?”

Puzzled and intrigued, I responded, “Well, Keller, I’m not sure. Sometimes I forget right away and sometimes I think about things for a long, long time.”

Just as puzzled and intrigued as I was, he then asked, “When you were a little boy did you ever break something and hide it? And when your Papa found it and got mad how long did it take him to forget that you broke something?”

“Oh my, Keller, I’m not sure I remember. Did something go wrong?” I asked.

“I broke Nonie’s cup and hid it under the bed and I want her to forget about it and not be mad at me,” came his answer.

David was aware that his sin had damaged his relationship with God. He sensed God’s displeasure with him and his feelings of guilt overwhelmed him which added to his problem. He knew why God “hid His face” from him.

But those feelings changed. Why? He repented, cried for God’s mercy and knew that he was forgiven. When he had God’s mercy he said, “You turned my wailing into dancing...and I will give You thanks forever.”

We all have experiences like Keller and David. We do something wrong, feel guilty, are filled with fear and want to know how long it will take to enjoy God’s blessings once again. Like David, ask, pray, repent and receive His forgiveness.

Prayer: Lord, please give us the confidence to come to You for the forgiveness we need that will restore our joy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 30:10 Hear LORD, and be merciful to me; LORD, be my help.”

The Power Of A Command

“The way a command is given affects the way the movement of the unit is executed,” is the opening sentence in The Drill Pad. The importance of giving a proper military command is further described in The Army Study Guide: “A correctly delivered command will be understood by everyone...and demands willing, correct and immediate response.”

One wonders if the writers quoted above read what David wrote in Psalm 29: “The voice of the Lord is powerful...and...majestic!” Throughout this Psalm the results of “the voice of the Lord” are staggering. That phase – “the voice” – occurs seven times in this Psalm and coincides with the number of times that the same phrase appears in Genesis 1. Both passages of Scripture express one theme: “The glory, power and majesty of our God rest upon all of His creation.” His might can be seen everywhere: the skies, the seas, on land, in the wilderness; in the mighty mountain ranges, the terrible results from bolts of lightning when they strike the earth. His power is seen when animals give birth to their young. He can even be seen in the desert regions! The glory of God is revealed wherever man looks!

Some may refuse to hear His voice or have no desire to respect the power in that voice. Those of us who do, however, are blest. Yet, we are left with two nagging questions: Why have we been chosen to see the power and majesty of God while others cannot see Him? And then, what is our obligation to God and to them? Because He loves us and has called us to serve Him.

Prayer: We thank You, Lord, for choosing us to hear Your voice. May we share its message with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 29:4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is majestic.

The Wonder Of Worship

“Is worship an act or an attitude?” asked the Old Testament professor.

As soon as the question was asked a fierce debate erupted among the students. There was more heat than light in the classroom as positions were defined and reinforced with passages of Scripture and definitions from a dictionary. There was little disagreement about the fact that the end of worship was to show deep, profound and extravagant respect and devotion to God. But the when and where seemed to be a problem.

Many Christians place worship on their weekly schedule as something “to do” on Sunday morning at eleven o’clock. It is an “event” that has been part of their lives since they were children and one they will continue to “practice” as long as they live.

However, worship in Psalm 29 is something we are to do because of what God has done for us. We are to ascribe or bow down before Him in an “act” of humility and sincerity that reflects our “attitude” of submission.

When there is a parade that honors Queen Elizabeth II we see people bow as she passes before them. We hear them shout, “Long live the Queen” and they address her as “Your Majesty.” These acts reflect an attitude of submission to her as their Queen. They are openly demonstrating their devotion to her.

Can we do less for our Lord? Says the Psalmist, “Worship – bow down in submission to – the Lord in the splendor of His holiness! Wherever we look we can see God if we open our eyes to His glory. And when we see Him at work, we are to bow in worship to our King.

Prayer: Father, may we bow before You with grateful hearts and worship You in humility and devotion. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 29:2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.