10-29-2015

Good Morning All!!

            Psalm 69:1; “Save me, O God!  For the waters have come up to my neck.”

    Ole and Sven were known through the land as the best shingling crew ever to walk the land; there was no building to tall, there was no roof too steep.  One day, as they were working on top of a three story barn, the wind blew their ladder down.  So Ole told Sven to walk that way around the roof and he would walk this way and they would look for a way down from the roof.  Soon Ole realized that he had walked all the way around the roof but did not meet Sven.  He heard his name called and looked down and saw Sven on the ground.  “How did you get down?” asked Ole.  “I jumped on that pile of manure, it was only ankle deep” was Sven’s answer.  So Ole jumped and landed on the pile of manure.  Soon he went from ankle deep to knee deep to waist deep until he was up to his chin in the manure pile.  Sven came over and pulled him out.  Ole yelled, “You said it was ankle deep!”  Sven answered, “I jumped head first.”

   Some days we feel like we are neck deep in manure.  Some days it feels like everything is wrong and getting worse.  Some days the pain of the world really catches up.  Some days we face a completely uphill battle and see no end in sight.  It might be the health questions that get no answers.  You may even hear, “this is as good as you will be” or even, “learn to live with it.”  Maybe you are suffering from other people’s bad decisions and it is wearing you down and out.  Perhaps you are the farmer listening to your neighbors talk of the best crop in years while you go home to your hailed out crops.  You listen to others and you hurt.  You know the pain; you know that loneliness. 

    At night, when you are in pain and you think you are alone; know that you are not.  Also know that it is alright to cry to God and ask why? Or how long?  It is ok to cry of the inequity and pain that you are feeling.  As we read the Bible, especially the Old Testament, we see many people who are crying or lamenting their current life situation or the current world or national situation or some event that was causing pain and suffering.  We can bring this pain to God; he invites us to speak to him from our heart whether that heart knows joy or pain.  He invites us to come to him and release the pain that we feel. 

    Life is tough and filled with pain and sadness; that is part of being human but God gives us hope.  He gives us hope that the pain will end, hope that we will not suffer forever.  It is important to note that David and all the biblical laments end with the same certainty that God will act on our behalf and that he will save us from suffering forever.  You may feel you are up to your neck in mire and despair but God has not abandoned you.  Cry to God, give him your pain and seek his relief.

Father, do not abandon me in my hour of pain.  Keep me in your loving arms.  Keep me certain of your grace.  Keep me patient in all my trials.  Keep my heart strong and my spirit uplifted. In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret