We’ve all seen the pictures of the devastation coming in waves from the Ukraine, the desperate pleas from sheltered women as their men take up arms.
‘Where will this all lead?’ we wonder. And then yesterday morning I got one of those life-changing phone calls from family, and today I visited my friend Big Al in the hospital who is a shadow of his former self. How to make sense of heartache… and when life is not supposed to go this way for any one of us, how to discern up from down.
podcast: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2f9e18f1/truth-and-hope-dateline-3222-ukraine
So let us talk about truth upon which to stand,
truth which we can use to navigate life and living. I can really only give you what I have experienced, so here goes------
When I have been rocked to my very core, this is my GO TO:
-->Remember in the darkness what I knew to be true in the daylight.
And these are the things I key on; perhaps they will bring you hope as you remember the Hope of the world yourself.
Because I am a child of God, I remember: God loves me and he is faithful in the things he has promised. His heart toward me is always GOOD.
Before I even reference a Scripture, goodness is who God is. Yet I do love how David said spoke of God in Psalm 100 - for the Lord is good and his kindness endures to all generations. Yes. Amen!
And then from the beautiful book of Lamentations - “Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness…The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3.22,23,25,26
Read. it. again.
I also remember:
¨Whatever is occurring in my life has not caught God off guard.
How do I know that? Because God never slumbers nor sleeps! Psalm 121.4
¨I have the privilege of turning to God for guidance and wisdom and I can entrust myself to Him
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don’t just trust your own thinking. Prov. 3.5
Ask God for wisdom and he will give it to you. James 1.5
¨Take one day at a time.
“Do not worry about tomorrow for it has cares enough of its own.” Matthew 6.34
Besides, God will give you strength for today; his grace is sufficient.
One more thing:
¨For you and me, let’s remember this world is not our home. Hebrews 13.14
We have an everlasting home in Heaven! While it seems that what we see and know is all there is, we remind ourselves that this life is fleeting, but eternity with God is just that -- eternity. with. God. in. perfection. And lately, it sure seems like Jesus may come back sooner than later. Hmmm.
Simply, do you want to change your viewpoint? Memorize these Scriptures, so you have them at the ready when. life. happens. to. you. because then you will have Peace: check out this song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoL2W9MuA9k
Christine