Writer’s Desk

This is quite a week, isn’t it? If you’re like me, you’re already on the countdown to the end of the political ads.

There are a lot of emotions surrounding the elections. People tie their hopes and dreams to the candidate of their choice. When the results are tallied and the winner is announced, there will be rejoicing and there will be disappointment.

But can I let you in on a secret? You don’t have to fall on either of those sides!

Our confidence is not in the presidential election. Our hope is not found in a flawed human ruler. If the people around us only knew where to find their hope, there would be a lot less anguish, a lot less fear, and a lot less anger and rioting.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 tells us: “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

No matter who wins, whether we are headed into a time of “drought” or a time of plenty, we do not have to fear… for we have God as our confidence. If we are rooted in Him, we will not sway in the wind, no matter how formidable it might be. We will not wither in the heat, no matter how scorching.

We have a choice. Root in God and stand firm. Or root in the world and fall.

Psalm 40:4 – “Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols.”

Language is a funny thing, isn’t it? Especially English. One word can have so many meanings, and the various meanings can really impact how we read and interpret something.

This is true in a verse that many of us are familiar with – a verse that has taken on special meaning in my life lately as we see all the uncertainty, unrest, and upheaval in the world around us.

Psalm 46:10-11 – “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’ The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

If you’re like me, you’ve often read the word “still” and thought of the absence of movement. While that certainly is one definition of still, there are a few others that have completely revolutionized the way I view this verse.

Calm. Tranquil. Peaceful. Soothed. Look at the rich layers that are added when you substitute one of those words for still!

Now, I’m not a Hebrew scholar and have no idea what Hebrew word was originally used for this verse, nor do I know the precise meaning that was intended in the original text. Yet, I think we can easily (and safely!) read this verse with one of the above words and still maintain the integrity and idea of the verse.

Certainly, there are times when we should be physically still (absent of movement) before the Lord. Often, this helps us focus on Him better and listen for His voice.

But there are other times when we really need to calm our minds.

God exhorts us to be still, calm, tranquil, peaceful, and soothed. Why? Because He is God! In the midst of a deadly global pandemic, in the midst of increasing racial tensions and civil unrest, in the midst of injustice, in the midst of political drama – He is still God. He is exalted among the nations because He is great. His glory is on display in creation throughout the world. Nothing can thwart His plans or purposes.

In verse 11, we see the psalmist’s response to being still and focusing on God: he recognizes that God is with him, that God alone is His fortress (safety & shelter). In being still, he finds hope and security.

If you’re feeling burdened or anxious today because of all the things going on in the world, know that you aren’t alone. We’ve all been there. But also know that if you will release those worries to God, who is big enough and strong enough to handle situations that you and I can’t touch, you can have peace.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1.

Conflict. Most of us avoid it when we can.

There are times when it is unavoidable, when you are attacked, seemingly without provocation. There are other times when you might have to do the attacking, perhaps to right a wrong.

How do you deal with the people with whom you have conflict? How do you deal with people who treat you unfairly, who are mean for no reason, who take away your rights or force you to do what you don’t want to do?

If we’re honest, most of us would consider those people our enemies. We might think of ways to get even, or try to figure out how we can “hit them where it hurts.”

Yet Ephesians 6:12 proposes a different outlook: “For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

If we are to take God’s word as completely true – and I sincerely hope that you do – then this verse makes it clear that people are not our enemies! Our real enemies are unseen, spiritual forces at work in the world around us. Those people, whom we are viewing as our enemies, are really just being influenced and used by the spiritual forces that seek our destruction.

So when you’re attacked by someone, when someone hurts you, just remember that he or she is not the real enemy. We’re not called to hate them, but to love and pray for them (Luke 6:27.)

That is so hard to do! Ephesians 6:10b-11 gives some help with this: “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all the strategies of the devil.” The verses that follow give us an idea of what that armor looks like: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, the Bible, and prayer.

A SWAT team would never think of going into action without fully arming themselves with weapons, body armor, and shields, yet as believers, we so often go through life unequipped and unarmed. We’re fighting supernatural forces, something much stronger than the flesh and blood criminals that a SWAT team faces, and we show up to battle armed with sticks and wearing shorts and flip-flops.

It’s time to gear up! Arm yourself with the weapons the Lord provides, lean on His great strength, follow Him as the ultimate spiritual SWAT commander, and fight the real enemy – the spiritual forces – while revealing Him to the people around you.

 

 

 

 

 

This is an Easter like no other, isn’t it?

Most churches will not be holding in-person celebrations – nor should they, in my opinion. COVID-19 has changed the face of Easter this year, as we all wait for the crisis to pass.

During this time, there’s a lot of fear. A lot of hopelessness. A lot of uncertainty. People are fighting for their lives, many have lost loved ones, others are losing their jobs, and futures are not what they once appeared to be.

All this reminded me of the first “Good” Friday almost 2,000 years ago, a day that didn’t feel so good to the people who knew Jesus.

That weekend, things looked at their darkest. There was fear. Hopelessness. Uncertainty. They’d lost someone they loved. They’d lost someone who they’d hoped would set them free. The future no longer looked as they’d imagined it should.

Sound familiar?

Yet just a few days later, all of that would be turned upside down. What they had viewed as the darkest of days became a day we now call good.

You see, God had a plan. Did it look anything like the plans the disciples had? Did they see the purpose in that plan as Jesus was bleeding on the cross? As His body was placed in a tomb?

No, they couldn’t see any of that. But they would. At just the right time, God would open their eyes and show them the glory of His plan.

I feel like we’re in an extended “Saturday”, hovering between the horrible hopelessness of shattered dreams and the glorious revelation of God’s goodness. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, burdened, hopeless, and afraid – like much of the world is right now, remember that the disciples felt exactly the same on a Saturday many, many years ago.

Just as God’s good plan was revealed on Resurrection morning, we can trust that His good plan will be revealed at just the right time now. In the meantime, trust God. Press into Jesus. And let the peace of God so permeate your life that those who need hope will see the hope that only Jesus can give.

These are scary times we live in. Uncertain times. Times of great loss on all levels.

Most people are concerned at best. Many are terrified. We see the evidence in – as silly as it sounds – the shortage of toilet paper.

But, if you’re a child of God, do you realize what one of your great blessings is? You don’t have to be afraid!

This morning I was reading in 2 Kings 6, where the king of Aram comes after Elisha. The troops surround Elisha’s city at night and when Elisha’s servant wakes up the next morning, he sees that they are completely surrounded. He goes to Elisha in a panic and Elisha’s response is very interesting. After comforting his faithful servant, Elisha prays (vs. 17) “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!”

What happened? “The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.”

The servant went from terrified to secure in the space of a moment, because he saw things from God’s perspective. Did his circumstances change? No. He was still surrounded by the enemy, horribly outnumbered by an army who had been sent after the prophet he served. Yet his eyes were opened to what God was doing in the unseen realm around him and he experienced the peace only God can give. Elisha’s next prayer was for God to act on His behalf against the enemy, but His first prayer was to see life from God’s perspective.

What if we did that? What if, instead of asking God to deliver us, we first asked Him to give us His perspective on our circumstances?

Don’t get me wrong, we’re to bring our requests to God. Praying for God to help us, to put an end to the Corona Virus, to save lives and restore stability – none of that is a bad thing! But maybe instead of making that our first request, we should first ask God to open our eyes to what He is doing. If we allow Him to show us His perspective on our circumstances, instead of just focusing on the situation around us, we just might find the peace that only He can give.

And the peace of the Lord is what we – and the rest of the world – really need.