By Tom Rempel, Pastor and Spiritual Growth Encourager
Tom is one of our go-to Spiritual Growth Encouragers. Although in a reset season of ministry, he is much in demand as husband, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He also stays active as a pastoral church and conference leader, and mentor to next generation
pastors/leaders.
“God is our REFUGE and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we WILL NOT fear…” (Psalm 46:1-2)..
Do current events make you feel like the disciples who were desperately clinging to the planks of their storm-battered boat? The waves kept rising higher and higher. The winds whipped the foaming waters while the skeletal masts sliced through the watery air. Their tiny vessel was mercilessly tossed from side to side while Jesus slept. I like to believe some of them were thinking about Psalm 46 then.
We need to remember it today, too, when we feel that all hope has been lost. We, like them,
cry out for mercy and rescue. Yet, it seems that our panicked voices are drowned out by the
raging storms all around.
And right now our world is very stormy! We see this particularly as things ramp up in the
Middle East, the ripple effect of which causes an increasing number of people to fear that we
are on the threshold of World War III. Here in the U.S., politicians are playing political pingpong with life-impacting issues while those who report the news are delivering storylines that pander to their chosen side of the political arena while viewers are left to search for truth. Add to that perversions and propaganda that threaten the innocence of those whom we once thought we could shelter, as well as gender identity debates and crumbling morality standards.
All of this and yet we haven’t even begun to mention the personal issues you may be dealing with, from financial hardship to health challenges. Your relationships may also feel more strained and fragile than before considering the outside strife that swirls inside to each of our personal connections.
These are life’s storms, and like the 12 men desperately clinging to the planks of their storm
battered vessel, our desperate cries for help may seem to be drowned out by the rage of cultural winds. When life seems BIG and our God seems small or too far away, how shall we NOW live?
WE MUST NOT PANIC
This is the time to remember the “Four P’s”! We have God’s promises, His presence, His
provision, and His protection!
WE MUST BE SALT AND LIGHT!
We must not forget that many are watching!
We must not fear the grave for its power has been taken (Matthew 10:28).
We must share the hope we have in Christ (2 Peter 3:8-10).
We must embrace the life that is lived by faith (Hebrews 11).
WE MUST TRUST AND OBEY:
Let this begin on our knees, praying for personal holiness, praying for a national turning to
Christ, praying for the leaders whom God has appointed (Romans 13), and praying that God’s kingdom will come!
When life is big and our God seems small, we run again to the truth of His Word. We must remember there is no dark corner in human experience where Christ has not personally gone before! Let’s be reminded by and pray this Scripture often:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will NOT fear…The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; He utters His voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts IS with us; the God of Jacob IS our fortress! Come, behold the works of the Lord, how He has brought desolations on the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the chariots with fire.” How must we then NOW live? “Be still, and know that I AM God. I WILL be exalted among the nations, I WILL be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts IS with us; the God of Jacob IS our fortress” (Psalm 46)!
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