In Times Like These...

Every day seems to birth a new conflict, natural disaster and continual, escalating political arguments. Chaos seems to be the revolving order of the world as it spins perpetually, suspended in the heavens. Where is hope found in all of this? Where does peace exist? Daring to probe even further, from where do purpose and the meaning of life hail and give birth to understanding when all seems without hope and chaos endlessly wearies our bones? 

If my hope and security were anchored in this world, this life would have little value to offer in encouragement to my searching heart and spirit. Thankfully, my eyes and my focus aren't on this place alone. My hope is anchored beyond the chaos, weariness and suffering. My security is found in a power far greater than any originating from this world and my eyes are set on my true home - a place far beyond the turmoil set before me... 

"Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)" Romans 8:18-25 (NLT)

If God's true children hadn't come into the knowledge and understanding of the divinely established truth that the world seems anxious to dismiss, hide from and revile without just cause, we'd have good reason to be overridden with deep and continual concern. But because we've learned the truth and made the genuine effort to understand it and believe it sincerely, we can stand confident to say in the midst of this passing test...

"I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your loving kindness is great to the heavens. And Your truth to the clouds. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth." Psalm 57:9-11 (NLT)

Our greatest hope, our peace, and our joy are well anchored in a place beyond the passing veil of this life. And they'll remain when all that we've seen in this life falls away to reveal the unending life in God's presence that we were all intended for from the very beginning of His plans for His children. When we've submitted to know God in earnest, to walk in His ways as best we can and have experienced His perfect faithfulness, we can call out to Him and know that He hears us without fail...

"Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Rescue me from my enemies, LORD; I run to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing." Psalm 143:8-10 (NLT)

The world, caught up in itself, won't find the comfort and security of His presence because of its arrogance, pride and lusts. A world that must first see in order to believe will never see what must first be believed in order to be seen. Yet it refuses to believe and to submit to the supreme force that created it. It rejects the call of God to see its error and surrender in repentance to His supreme authority and His offer of redemption. Instead, the world labors continually in it's useless efforts to satisfy insatiable lusts and to resolve its decaying issues without any real hope of success. Despite its greatest efforts and the height of its intellect... it will fail. God's true children will not.

"The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him,

And delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"  Psalm 34:7-8 (NKJ)

How do God's children know these things? We read and continue to reread the bible - God's book of instruction and history of His character. We step out in faith to believe what He's made available for us to know - trusting Him at every turn as the perfect authority over truth. Surrendering to His divine authority, we continue earnestly to gain understanding of His word and above all else... to know Him as intimately as He will allow and to walk through this life with Him under the security of His covering. 

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished. If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.”  Psalm 91 (NLT)

Be true.

"No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (NLT)