A break in the clouds

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all are growing in Christ this week. I am writing you from the beautiful, and fairly cool, state of South Carolina. In case you didn’t know, I am attending a two week Army chaplain course which is equipping me to love others as God has loved us. Your prayers for my family, our soldiers, our church and our community are cherished.

Well, we truly are going through an incredible time of history. If you were to concentrate on the news, hope and happiness would not be words that would probably come to mind. To use a metaphor that all of us in the Pacific Northwest would definitely understand—There doesn’t seem to be any break in the clouds UNTIL or UNLESS you look to God’s Word where real hope and happiness are found.

Every day we have chapel at 8 am. Yesterday, the Scripture reading was from Psalm 27. And the words of David through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit were truly amazing and perfect for this gloomy time.

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident.” Psalm 27:1-3

David was no stranger to what would humanly be construed as hopeless and fearful circumstances. I don’t know about you but I would be scared to death if evildoers were out to “devour my flesh.” As a matter of fact if there were people who were actually striving to kill me I wonder what my attitude toward God would be. Look at David’s attitude…

Instead of pleading or even bargaining with God for the preservation of his life David declares, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread?” David had NO FEAR due to His focus on the Almighty Creator of the universe. Belief in the ONE who created life by simply speaking a word puts our problems into perspective. The perspective is this: God is in complete control and everything that happens ultimately is for His glory and our good. Therefore our hope and our joy is in Him even if people are seeking to kill us, even if every bank goes bankrupt, and yes—even if an extremely liberal politician is voted in as president. We should be enthralled with God instead of this temporary, depraved, and decaying world.

“One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to meditate in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me; And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.” Psalm 27:4-7

Instead of requesting temporary deliverance from suffering and pain David’s one request was to live in the presence of God. Instead of wallowing in depression and fear he relishes the thought of seeing the beauty of the LORD and meditating in His Word. Therefore He proclaims, “…I will sing praises to the LORD.”

When you look in Scripture there is indeed a break in the clouds. In fact, there really are no clouds at all. The hope and joy that we have in God through Christ transcends every fearful thing that this world produces. Remember, GOD IS IN CONTROL! And as you remember this, let the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension; guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. I will be praying for you.

In the service of the King,
Pastor Don