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Many years ago, during a particularly challenging year, I was in need of solace and a personal touch in my life to help me see that God was still there. Living far from home in communist Poland, life sometimes felt desperate. Our work was thwarted from time to time, the language was challenging. Russian tanks had come into our midst, there was revolution and thousands of people gathering to fight against the repression that had been in tact from the Russian rule for too many years. News media was reporting devastating insinuations of danger and havoc that lay ahead.
One of our friends had asked my roommate and me if we wanted to have a spin on the lake in his sail boat. I had never been on a sail boat, but it sounded like a gift for getting away. Steam arose on the lake from the early morning chill of a freezing night. Our teeth chattered as we walked through the “close by” woods toward the place where the boat was moored. We gingerly climbed into the boat, hoping to find our footing as it gently swayed back and forth.
The sail was hoisted, a gentle breeze began to fill the sails to fullness. Suddenly, the boat shot forth in an effortless glide. At that moment, the sun peaked through the early morning darkness and sparkled on the water. It felt a little bit like we had slipped into heaven.
If you are like all of us at our house, you have had such deep concern for all that is happening in our country and world. So many issues, so many stresses, illness, economy issues, an abnormal life that separates us from loved ones and a bigger humane concern that has riveted all of us.
Fear is a natural response. What is happening? What will happen? Darkness hovers over so much of our normal life. People are filled with rage and many with despair.
As I have been praying lately, God has begun to shine a light into my heart. We often only see what is on the news and on the internet. Yet, our God is above all circumstances in the world, and his light is shining beyond what the news is reporting. I was reminded of so many verses as I was praying and I realized that even as the sun arose unexpectedly but gave such light to our early morning jaunt, so Christ, our light, is working behind the curtain in so many places, and his faithfulness and goodness and redemption will be evident to us when we see the whole story.
Here are some verses that have encouraged me.
Psalm 46:1–3
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”
Even in the darkest of times when the world seems to be coming apart, God is sovereign over all.
Psalm 27:1
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
God is at work, He is strong, fighting for us, we are to keep our eyes on Him.
Matthew 8:25–27
“And they went and woke him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing.’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?’ Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?’”
Even when we are tempted to fear, we can cry out to our God and He will answer and calm the storms of our lives. Yet, we must rest in the fact that He is sovereign over all powers and is working beyond what we can see during this time.
Luke 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
Psalm 91:4–5
“.He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day.”
“Some men trust in chariots, we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
May we all trust in Him and watch His light rising in our lives and praise Him for His beauty in the midst of our daily lives.
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