Whenever I share in a Blog or on Facebook a need and desire to trust God, I can almost hear, “that’s all well and good but in the real world…” or, “that’s a pretty picture but that’s not reality.”
How do you share the reality that we can trust God in all things? There are so many serious problems today and evil seems to be accelerating and it’s so easy to get caught up in the turmoil and real world problems of increasing higher prices, job loss, sickness, disease, wars, gun violence, hate, intolerance and people driving each other crazy.
Psalm 46 is one of my favorite Psalms because it reminds me that this world will always have trouble and it will always have God. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the City of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 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.
I can’t stop the problems of this world that we are all facing to varying degrees. Can you? Some people in their delusion think they can so they arm themselves and go out and start killing. Deluded? Absolutely. Are we any different when we hate each other? Does that hate solve any problem or make it worse? We hate because we’re afraid. We can clamor with the rest of the world and exhaust ourselves or maybe we can realize our impotence to solve anything without God.
I can’t love everyone in the world. If hate will never end the misery then what can we do? What is our part in this particular time on this planet? We can turn to God. I can’t trust other people who are filled with anger and hate but I can trust God. I’m learning how to do that with His help. I’m being enabled to take my eyes off the turmoil raging in this world and see something infinitely better. He is the only One who can solve the problems of this world.
Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:1-7.
The problems of the world will not cease because I trust in Him but my angst will cease. I will feel His peace and love and I can trust that He loves each one of us and will resolve every hurt and sin in every heart. I gladly take that part! What I’m learning is that God works with people individually. There will come a day, we don’t know when, when God will intervene in the world dramatically. He knows what He’s doing. In the meantime, he works with us individually. I don’t know about you, but I am so grateful for His patient work in my heart and in the hearts of so many, many others. Open your heart if you’re weary. He’s there.
To Take the Hand of God 