Believing GOD, Renewing Strength

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46:1-3

Once again our Nation has been traumatized by a senseless tragedy.

Monday morning dawned with devastating news of an unbelievably tragic and heart-wrenching incident in the city of Las Vegas, Nevada.  Dozens of unsuspecting concert attendees murdered in the pre-dawn hours; mowed down by a barrage of gunfire. Like sitting ducks 20,000 plus folks were mostly unprotected in an open field. In addition to the deaths, hundreds of others received severe to minor injuries either from bullets or in the ensuing stampede. The reasoning behind this evil and unprovoked action is unclear, so far.

New technologies, global news service outlets and social media, etc., bring such tragedies to the entire world in real time. Regardless of where in the world the horror is taking place, the impact is felt up-close and personal. Insecurity is now a common universal emotion and Peoples everywhere have the same fearful question, where will all this end?

The American psychologist Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) says that there’s a cycle people go through who experience seemingly unending pressures. First surprise, then there’s anger that becomes intense rage; but as the pressure continues the fight goes out of us along with the anger, then we come to a place of “When will this end?” and eventually apathy.

The apathetic feel little about anything. They are numb to what is going on around them and simply stops caring about everything, whether it be good or bad.

Events of our time should not surprise or impact GOD’s children like it does the rest of the world.

The Scriptures warn us that we will be victims of increasing acts of human cruelty and hate as we approach the last days when people will turn away from GOD and holiness.

“…there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…” 2 Timothy 3:1-4

GOD’s children however are urged to remember what we have been taught – that our lives have purpose, we live by faith, are patient and loving, and endure in difficult circumstances.

Apathy in a child of GOD is a contradiction to our beliefs. Such feelings are unwholesome and have a negative impact on our relationship and walk with GOD. To allow adversity to overwhelm us to the point of not caring about life is insolence and an insult to GOD as Creator of life, to question His Sovereignty in general and His continuing goodness in our individual lives.

A person who can see no purpose to life and is blind to the blessedness that GOD produces through adversity cannot know CHRIST as Savior and LORD – one who walks by sight and not by faith.

James Hudson Taylor, in reference to the story of Job says this is what we ought to know about adversity: “Satan would very often harass the believer in times of sorrow and trial by leading him to think that GOD is angry with him. But our heavenly Father delights to trust a trustworthy child with trial.” The point here being that Satan has only as much power over our lives as GOD permits and GOD trust us to remain faithful in trials for His delight. In all of Job’s trials he never doubted the Sovereignty and goodness of GOD. 

No matter how dire our circumstances or that of others in our community, we must not forget that there is much more from which GOD protects us – every second of every minute of every hour of every day, there are dangers about us, seen and unseen. He is our sun and our shield (Psalm 84) whose faithful promises are our armor and protection (Psalm 91.).  And He does these things for everyone: (GOD) makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers alike. Matthew 54:45

Our Father is still both holy and immutable, we must have faith and believe what we know of Him.

Author and speaker Bruce McDonald in his book Believing GOD in Difficult Times – the Fight of Faith, writes, in part: “There have been and will continue to be frightening and harrowing times here on earth. We are no match for the Enemy (but) victory is assured because we have One on our side who is greater than our foe…Intimacy with and knowledge of our LORD is essential to a strong walk of faith. We must get to know GOD, gain confidence in Him, and even boast in the fact that we, by His grace, know Him.”

No matter how tempting it is to fold up our tents and walk away in the face of disaster and conflict, the children of GOD must buckle down and push through. Victory is ours and it is just ahead! We must fight for that which our LORD and Savior JESUS CHRIST purchased for us with His own precious blood – the right that we have obtained as children of GOD

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Those who know the Almighty GOD who reigns in heaven as Abba Father have no reason to be overcome by fear. We have His WORD that He loves us, cares about every detail of our lives and His assurance that He will:

• Be with us and will never leave us nor forsake us. Deuteronomy 31:6
• Keep us in perfect peace because He knows we trust Him. Isaiah 26:3
• Help and strengthen. Isaiah 40:28-31; 41:10
• Keep His Holy Spirit living in us as a constant reminder of what He has done for us through JESUS. John 14:26-27
• Hear our cries when we are brokenhearted and sorrowful and deliver us from our enemies. Psalm 34:17-18
• Give us sufficient grace to endure and substitute His power for our weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
• Be GOD of all comfort who is able to comfort us perfectly in sorrow and teach us how to comfort our brothers and sisters in CHRIST. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
• Set aside in heaven a glorious and eternal reward for each of us that far outweighs the temporary afflictions we experience here on earth. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

This is still our Father’s world.

GOD has not abdicated His rule over His creation nor will He abandon those who belong to Him.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1

Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy GOD, Mighty and Everlasting Father. YOU have been our help in ages past and YOU are our only hope in the difficult days to come. Father, help us to not grow weary and forbid that we allow apathy to overtake us as danger and disaster rage all about us. In these unsettling times may we continue to trust YOU with all our hearts and not our imperfect understanding. May we know YOU as the One true GOD, Sovereign and Immutable. May YOUR WORD live deep in our hearts and minds and keep us aware that we are YOUR children, that we live in the shelter of the Most High, and that we will forever find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. YOU Father are our refuge and our strength, our sun and our shield. We give thanks and praise as we acknowledge that all glory, all honor, all dominion and power are YOURS for ever and ever.

We offer our prayers and petitions in JESUS’ NAME.

Amen!

Always by God’s Word and prayer,

Cecile