"Nine words and ten syllables. About the same length as your phone number. But what a life-changing sentence to learn and live! Notice the opening word---not if but when. Fear---in its various forms---besets us every day. And notice what Psalm 56:3 doesn't say:
When I am afraid...do I trust God's providence, His promises, His protection, His power, His peace?
When something tragic and unexpected happens, how do you continue to trust in God's protection?
Well, along with trusting in God's protection, you have to pass through the trust of God's providence, promises, power and peace. For reasons we probably will not see on this side of eternity, loved ones are taken at times when we don't think they should be. While I am certain that God does not cause these tragedies, I do believe that He determines, in a nano-second, taking all the factors of that point in time into His completely omniscient understanding, that taking them home is the best thing. He promises us that we will see clearly one day, that He has the power to resurrect those who believe in that power, and that He will give us His peace.
Protection? I know that we live in a broken world where out-of-control things can happen in an instant. Where disease can attack quickly. Where disasters can strike without warning. Is God going to intervene in these events? Maybe...sometimes...when He sees that as the best thing. But I believe that when we pray for the protection of those we love, what God is truly asking us to be seeking is His spiritual protection, just as Jesus asked for His disciples in John 17:15, "My prayer is...that You protect them from the evil one."
We will all die...some sooner, some later...unless Jesus returns for His own before our natural deaths. When we do, we will leave someone wondering, "Why? Why now?" God alone knows that answer. But what we want to be certain of, and for those we love to be certain of, is that His protection was around us, and that He carried us home. That is the best protection...because it is eternal.
- When afraid, I will panic or fall to pieces.
- When afraid, I will grow depressed and give up.
- When I am afraid, I will run and hide.
When I am afraid...do I trust God's providence, His promises, His protection, His power, His peace?
When something tragic and unexpected happens, how do you continue to trust in God's protection?
Well, along with trusting in God's protection, you have to pass through the trust of God's providence, promises, power and peace. For reasons we probably will not see on this side of eternity, loved ones are taken at times when we don't think they should be. While I am certain that God does not cause these tragedies, I do believe that He determines, in a nano-second, taking all the factors of that point in time into His completely omniscient understanding, that taking them home is the best thing. He promises us that we will see clearly one day, that He has the power to resurrect those who believe in that power, and that He will give us His peace.
Protection? I know that we live in a broken world where out-of-control things can happen in an instant. Where disease can attack quickly. Where disasters can strike without warning. Is God going to intervene in these events? Maybe...sometimes...when He sees that as the best thing. But I believe that when we pray for the protection of those we love, what God is truly asking us to be seeking is His spiritual protection, just as Jesus asked for His disciples in John 17:15, "My prayer is...that You protect them from the evil one."
We will all die...some sooner, some later...unless Jesus returns for His own before our natural deaths. When we do, we will leave someone wondering, "Why? Why now?" God alone knows that answer. But what we want to be certain of, and for those we love to be certain of, is that His protection was around us, and that He carried us home. That is the best protection...because it is eternal.
1 comment:
In times of tragedy and loss is when we need to trust God the most. We can only trust and obey. We do not know the exact answers, but we do know the answer of God's love, His mercy, and His grace.
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