If you love a hike in the forest, you’ll not let some snow and ice keep you home. But you must keep your footing sure. Proper shoes and sticks can give you sure footing.
In these slippery times with lots of things to distract us from our footing, let’s remember to keep our eye on the Lord. And like proper shoes and gear for the icy path, let’s use the disciplines to keep our focus on him. That way…
“You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip;” (2 Samuel 22:37 ESV)
Around us and those we love, it appears that there is a never ending train of bad news chugging through our awareness. This morning I was so relieved not to hear the word Ukraine in the 5 minute news wrap up.
Sometimes we feel small against the wind and waves of life.
A new variant is now spreading and a dear friend is still struggling with the lingering effects of Covid and the price of gas and bread keep rising. Sigh.
It’s no wonder people are struggling emotionally and even mentally.
My focus is wrong.
I’m looking around when I should be looking up.
Be reminded with me:
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:37-40 ESV)
Trouble is not new, is not seldom, is not far away. No, in its many forms, it is present with us.
Our answer?
Focus on God, he is always there, turn to him, always faithful, always with us.
“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”
Psalm 9:1-2 ESV
“Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 117:1-2 ESV
A friend in Ukraine used these profound words in a brief discussion.
When asked if they believed their president, the answer was “I believe God.”
In what followed were these helpful words: “panic is a bad helper”.
When we are growing in our trust in God it becomes easier to face trouble. When we’re facing the unknown, we don’t need to panic because we can boldly run to the throne of Grace where we know we are heard by the all knowing, all living God.
Our wickedness shall not overpower the unspeakable goodness and mercy of God; our dullness shall not overpower God’s wisdom, nor our infirmity God’s omnipotence. (St. John of Kronstadt)
As an assignment I asked students to describe the way they wanted to grow in 2022. One said “I want my faith to grow.
This morning M’Cheyne brought me to this:
“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-7 ESV
But, sometimes our fear is stronger than our faith*
I surely know what that feels like. Here’s an old post that describes my discipline to build trust in God:
kingdom travelin' 