The Challenge
I love the status quo. As much as I claim to embrace change and revel in the adventure of the journey, I must confess that change makes me nervous and sometimes downright irritable. The nervousness is easy to account for; change is not easily controlled and presents new problems and uneasy rubs every day. For example, I am sitting in the sanctuary of our new home that God has blessed us with. It is a complete miracle that we have any building at all. Here in the Washington D.C. area, land and buildings are difficult to come by and quite expensive when they are available. God has graciously and mercifully put a "church" building right into our hands and is in the process of providing the money to close the deal and make it our home for the work He has given to us. Hallelujah! Having said all of that, I came to this quiet place to attack my laptop and pound out a vista article for the website. (The website you are visiting right now). I have been sitting here for more than an hour and this is all I have written.
Worry, will the new chairs for the sanctuary arrive before Easter? What are those kids doing outside the building? Should I go out and spy and make sure they are behaving? What's that noise, I hope the heating and air conditioning system is working properly? What if the economy gets even worse and we can't pay for this...aaahhhhhhhh! Change, it brings the challenge that I am not willing to embrace but that I have certainly prayed for time and time again.
How does God put up with us? Why does He allow us to fail, complain, or ignore Him again and again? Where do I find peace of mind to sustain me in the challenges presented to me every day?
Psalm 46:1 (NIV) God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Simple, brief, but straight to the point and easily understood this verse brings things into perspective. God is, not was or shall be, our refuge. A place of safety, warmth, sustenance, and protection and think about it, not a place but a person, God himself. God is my refuge. God is my strength, a strong refuge. He is able to face every challenge without trepidation; I can trust Him, He will not fail. God is my refuge, my strength, an ever-present help in trouble. He will not ever be unavailable to me. There are times when He is quiet but never unavailable. There are times that the mystery of His presence is overshadowed by my own doubt and fear, but He is never out of reach. He is constant in His watch care over me and has promised to NEVER leave me and NEVER forsake me. I am a sheep in His pasture and He has let me hear His voice and trust His love.
The challenges will never cease but He is a Refuge, a safe haven in the time of storm. The enemy is relentless in his attacks and treachery against the work of the Kingdom but He is strong and unable to be moved. Trouble will last always but He is an ever-present help in the time of trouble. The troubles of the righteous are many but the Lord delivers them out of them ALL.
I had to leave for a moment; the phone rang. The chairs will be delivered tomorrow and I don't have anyone to help me unload the truck and I have to .......
Aren't you glad you know God!!!