HONK IF A KID FALLS OUT
That’s the bumper sticker on the back of a large SUV I saw recently. It made me laugh, which is saying something.
What was funny is THAT was the level of concern a parent had for their offspring. Or whoever’s offspring was hitching a ride!
Anything else? No worries. A kid falling out? That probably requires some attention.
What kinds of things demand your full attention?
A friend of ours received a cancer diagnosis today. Hearing The Big C word is one of those things that will require our full attention.
Right?
One minute our faith is solid and life is satisfactory and everything is moving along pretty decently.
The next moment our faith takes a hit and our life is rocked and everything else is in question.
We’ve all been there.
News flash: We will all be there again someday.
What do you do? Do you abandon your faith? Or do you double down?
First, let’s agree that it’s absolutely NORMAL for hard times to cause you to doubt God, feel abandoned by him, and second-guess your faith. There is nothing wrong with any of that.
But these are end-of-this-road moments, where you have to choose to go left or right. You’re forced to choose which way to turn.
Does God really care about your well-being, like the Bible says? Then why isn’t he helping? You’re desperate, and you need answers NOW. How long do we keep waiting on God? Will he come through? Will he deliver you?
Or will he leave you to drown in your troubles all by yourself?
I may not have answers that will simply wipe your troubles away. I may not have a spiritual magic wand to abracadabra your life all better.
But I do have good news for your spirit, and hope to share for your soul:
Good people suffer many troubles, but the Lord saves them from them all; the Lord preserves them completely; not one of their bones is broken.
Psalm 34:19-20 GNT
Can you hear that? Troubles will come. But the Lord will save us and preserve us. Completely! Even though there may be pain and sorrow, we will not be broken.
We will not be shaken. And we have a choice in the matter:
You must, of course, continue faithful on a firm and sure foundation, and must not allow yourselves to be shaken from the hope you gained when you heard the gospel. It is of this gospel that I, Paul, became a servant—this gospel which has been preached to everybody in the world.
Colossians 1:23 GNT
Today, whatever you’re going through, you can CHOOSE to stand faithful on this firm and sure foundation: GOD HAS THIS! He has never failed us before, and he’s not going to begin failing us now.
In the face of what you’re facing, here’s a song to encourage you. It’s written by a childhood friend of mine, and you can listen to it if you CLICK HERE.
My soul finds rest in You, my fortress, and my Rock
My hope for life, my hiding place, my refuge, and my God
In You, I’ve found my home, my shelter from the storm
And I’ll pour out my heart to You, and lean upon Your throne
I will put my trust in You, I will put my hope there too
I will stand upon Your Word and I will not be shaken
I will let my praises show, holding on to what I know
‘Cause I know You’re always there and I will not be shaken, I will not be shaken
Tony Guerrero, I Will Not Be Shaken, 2002
Stand in hope when you’re facing hard times.
That’s worship.
–Pastor Steve.