Be Still...

Good Morning!

Well, it has been a wild ride this week, hasn’t it?

For those of us approaching retirement … and those who are already retired … the events of this week have been disturbing. And I suspect that some of us are a little (perhaps a lot) depressed. And while I wish I could be “Johnny Sunshine” on the matter, I must admit that I have some reservations about the ability for the economy to recover from the latest spate of bad news.

HOWEVER - - I also must also declare that while the world’s markets seem to be crashing around us, God is still on His Throne … and is still waiting to help us. Let’s grab one of our favorite Psalms to help us through this day:

Psalm 46[a]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the LORD has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Footnotes:
a. Psalm 46:1 In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12.
b. Psalm 46:1 Title: Probably a musical term
c. Psalm 46:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 11.
d. Psalm 46:9 Or chariots

I can’t help thinking about my dogs, Lilliput and Ladybug, when I read the first verse of the Psalm. Both are really afraid of thunder. We can always tell when a storm is approaching because both begin to gravitate to where we are … seeking our “protection”. And our protection is usually no more than a soft word of assurance and a pat on the head. They then lie close by as the storms comes and then passes.

Can you hear God’s calming voice? “Be still … and know that I am God…”. As the storm approaches we get skittish … and sometimes make rash and unreasoned choices. Heed the voice of God. Be still. Listen for His voice. Know that He is God … and He is there for you. The Lord Almighty is with us. Be still …

No – I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. But I know that God is in our tomorrow as well as our today. And I know He cares for us. So what else could I possibly desire?

Agape’


Mr. Jim