By This is a guest post from a long-time friend in our community, Jeremy Sundin. These guest posts are a part of a series of encouraging devotionals during this time of global disruption.
If you’re like most people in the world right now, you’re going through a time that tests your faith and tempts you to give into fear of the foreboding clouds on the horizon. And yet, hard times are not unique to our present times. Even the early Christians lived through incredibly tumultuous times. The Bible offers us a model of how to position our lives in times like these.
One day, I was digging a trench at my job and was almost done with my project when a thunder storm rolled in. Wind was bending the trees while lightning flashed everywhere. I stubbornly kept digging until a trickle of water from up the hill became a torrent and overwhelmed my berm and flooded my trench. The wind, lightning, and rain were irresistible. I was wet, cold and discouraged as I gave up and went back to my truck. I glanced inside the house, and the scene in there was completely different. It was dry, warm, and peaceful. The occupant lay on a couch reading a book, appearing not to notice the storm that had defeated me.
“Why my soul are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him. He is my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:5
Maybe depression, being downcast, having fear, and disturbance of soul are the result of not putting our hope in God—of not praising Him, and not living with the pressing reality that He is our Savior. He is our God; therefore, we are His redeemed. we are His people.
Maybe being in Christ is like being in that house. As we live lives increasingly rooted in Him and not ourselves, slowly the warmth and protection of His wings cause the worries of this life to grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.
Jesus was tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. This means Jesus was probably tempted to fear life’s storms too! Yet, He didn’t. He claimed the shelter of His Father’s arms and trusted God’s plan for His life—that is what silenced the storms.
Jesus offers the reality of the life He lived to each of His followers
Jesus offers the reality of the life He lived to each of His followers. He offers His life to us! We can live in that same peace, power, and quiet confidence in the provision of our good heavenly Father.
Let’s put our hope in God, lavishing our praise on Him and focusing on the reality that He saved us, because He loves us. We are His people, and He is our God. If we cling to this truth, we can shelter any storm that comes our way.
“I, the LORD All-Powerful, will protect Jerusalem like a mother bird circling over her nest.” Isaiah 31:5
