"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1 NASB)
What was your reaction yesterday when you heard the news from Boston?
It has been interesting to me to note the various reponses across social media and in news reports. Everything from "here we go again" or "oh no, not again" to grief and sadness to anger to numbness, and everything in between.
I read a blog post yesterday, and shared that post on my Facebook wall this morning, that pretty much sums up my feelings. I'm tired. Tired of bombings and terror attacks being part of "normal". I'm weary of the numbness and the grief that accompanies these attacks. I'm just tired. And sad.
I'm sad that my grandchildren have to grow up in this kind of a world. Sad that they will never know the kind of carefree lifestyle that was part of my growing up years. Sad that they and their generation have to grow up in a terror-filled world.
And I'm tired of all the "how could God let this happen?" questions. God did not cause this. We live in a fallen, broken world. People's hearts are often full of anything and everything but God. And while God did not cause this, He was not surprised by it. Nothing comes as a surprise to our all-knowing God. How His heart must grieve over the condition of our world. How His heart must be grieving with all who were affected by yesterday's senseless tragedy. And how our hearts grieve with them as well as we "weep with those who weep." (Romans 12:15).
When these events happen, it's easy to be overcome by them. It's easy to let grief or fear or anger consume us. I began this post with the first verse of one of my favorite Psalms, Psalm 46. It is a profound truth that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
The next word of that Psalm is a very important word. Therefore. Because it is true that "God is our refuge and strength", how are we to respond?
"Therefore, we will not fear." That's our response. We will not fear. No matter what happens. No matter how many bombs go off, or how many shootings there are, or how many terrorist attacks. No matter what happens. Because God is our strength, our very present help, we will not fear. That's our "therefore". That's our response. We know the truth......that no matter what man does, God is still God. God is in control. Even when we don't understand and no matter what comes our way, that truth remains.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea." (Psalm 46:1-2 NASB)
"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21 ESV)
Wonderful reflection on the horrific day in Boston. May we have the confidence of Job to trust our Sovereign God (EL ELYON) when we cannot understand why things things go badly and people suffer unimaginable pain and grief. Yes, we live in a fallen world this side of The Garden; and, Yes, bad things happen. But God is not surprised by them and even though He seeems not to be judging this evil now, we know that He will ultimately judge the wicked. Only He knows the perfect time and the justice deserved.
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