Turmoil
Our world continues to be immersed in turmoil. From lying politicians to a media that feeds fear, it seems impossible to find the truth about what is taking place. Division has spread very deep into the crevices of our American soil and spilled right into the heart of our family units. So deep that it feels impossible for us to ever be reunited again.
We are afraid and we are sad. I see the weight of it in the eyes of people everyday. I hear it in the tone of their voice. It breaks my heart. We are becoming broken down by the chaos that spans across the world. The events that are taking place and the complete loss of respect for human life is beyond anything that we have ever experienced.
We are living in the days that Matthew prophesied so long ago...
"And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." Matthew 24:8
"Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But, the one who endures to the end will be saved." Matthew 24:12-13
It feels like we are crumbling under the weight of an evil force that has set out to destroy us. It feels like evil is winning. How will we ever pull out of this? Will we ever know peace again?
At times, I physically feel fear gripping at my throat and choking out my breath while these questions swirl through my mind. My heart beats fast when I let my mind dwell in dark places.
I am sure that I am not alone in these feelings and that you experience these exact same things at times.
This week some thoughts occurred to me and they comforted me. They were not a new revelation, but more of a reminder. My thoughts were this,
"I only have THIS moment in time."
And in this moment, I know the Lord is with me. I feel His peace, His presence and I cling to His promises. If I look ahead into the future and imagine what is to come, I am really seeing myself alone there. I can't see or sense God's presence or peace there yet because He is with me right now, in THIS moment. He promises that He will be with me in the future.
God is with us moment by moment. If we jump ahead in time, we are living out the future in our mind before God is there to walk with us through it. It is like we are trying to take control of our future on our own without Him. So, of course that is terrifying. That is not His plan for us. He walks with us moment by moment. He does not ask us to have the future all planned out and in control.
"Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;
Living with Jesus, a new life divine;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
Moment by moment I'm kept in His love:
Moment by moment I've life from above;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine;
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
Never a trial that He is not there.
Never a burden that He doth not share,
Moment by moment, I'm under His care.
Never a heartache, and never a groan,
Never a teardrop and never a moan;
Never a danger but there on the throne,
Moment by moment He thinks of His own.
Never a weakness that He doth not feel,
Never a sickness that He cannot heal;
Moment by moment, in woe or in weal,
Jesus my Saviour. abides with me still."
Moment by Moment Hymn by Daniel Webster, 1896
Anything that we suffer on this earth is for a moment.
"Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." ~Psalm 30:5
"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." ~2 Corinthians 4:17-18
In this moment we have to trust that God is in control. When all our eyes see is turmoil and all our ears hear are the cries of suffering, we must cling to Him, His Word and His promise that He will never leave or forsake us.
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