“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” — Psalm 46:10-11
Do you realize that it has been over two years since COVID entered our reality? Our last regular church service (before we temporarily closed) was March 8, 2020. Undeniably, the two years since then have been unlike anything I’ve ever known.
Just think of the instability we’ve experienced: COVID, lock-downs, empty shelves, variants, political discord, election chaos, riots, a local earthquake and wind storm, supply chain breakdowns, recession, border crisis, wildfires, inflation, Afghanistan, and most recently, Russia invading Ukraine. Many wonder if this will escalate to a broader conflict. (I wrote this a week ago, so I don’t know what will have transpired since then.)
We Can Rest
All of these events have caused much anxiety and depression among us. A number of you have told me about conversations you’ve had with classmates, co-workers, and family members — all expressing fears and worries. We feel powerless in the face of stressful news events. It just keeps coming. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was the most recent reminder.
As I see it, we have a few options. First of all, we can hope that things will “get better.” Secondly, we can ignore the news. Or thirdly, we can rest in the truth of Psalm 46. I shared the last two verses above. (You should read all of Psalm 46).
Did you know that Psalm 46 was the inspiration for Martin Luther’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”? It talks about the instability we see in the natural world and with nations. (Does that sound familiar?) Verse 10 reminds us of two commands to obey. In the first place, be still. In other words, don’t panic. Next, recognize God’s rule over the natural world and nations.
We can absolutely rest in the fact our God is in control of this unstable world. Every anxious thought can be quieted in our hearts. Because God is God, He wins. And we are with Him.
Resting,
Posted in A Word from the Pastor