For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13.

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6-7 The Message.

Our chapter today, 2 Chronicles 36, the final chapter of this book, mirrors the need we all have to turn to our Creator God when all is in flux and what was familiar changes. Can we see that God calls us to turn to Him? No fewer than 4 kings reign in the tumultuous period before Judah is finally taken captive to Babylon, the empire that itself will be defeated by Persia. Mighty Empires come and go. God remains. In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.’” v. 22-23.

70 years. The temple and the wall surrounding Jerusalem and all the palaces in Jerusalem are destroyed. The land finally has rest for 70 years. v. 15-21.

What about today? The same as yesterday, today and tomorrow. When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali – to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:12-17.

I look at this world in great upheaval just like the upheavals of ages past. I’m learning not to put my trust in empire by whatever name. Empires come and go. God remains.

Our small congregation, a remnant, too, is learning that lesson. We are in the process of being cast aside by a denomination moving in ways we cannot fathom. If that was all there was I would be truly lost. God remains. Our pastor shared with us yesterday The Message translation of Philippians 4 and it was such a comfort. God has been preparing us to trust Him. Jesus told us the parable of the lost sheep (Matthew 18:10-14, Luke 15:1-7) because He knows we will be scattered by all but Him. For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

We are no different from the people we read about in Scripture. And we are held safe in God’s love because it was He who created us. He will never leave us or forsake us or cast us away. Thank You, Lord, for the comfort of Your Love. I trust You. I love You. Hold us in Your Love forever for we need You and our need is great. I tell others to take Your hand and walk with You, but You have us by our right hands already! You have never let go. Thank You Lord, for so great a Love!