Monday, July 20, 2015

Ways To Not Lose Hope As A Christian in a Minority Culture (Part 2)

This is a seven part series that was originally given as one meditation for a vespers service at Central Christian Church in Grand Rapids Michigan.  In my opinion, people who are living their lives with the Bible as their authority are in a minority in our country.

I took a FB test recently that told me I was a pessimist.  While I have never been a sugar plums and puppies kind of person, I have been a half full girl, not a half empty one.

I have so changed since 9-11.  Since I do not believe our country will be improving any time in the near future, am I doomed to be a pessimist?  NO!  I can pray for an attitude adjustment and I can tell myself the TRUTH, the way that I always have when times have gotten tough in my life.


Truth Two:  Since God is in control and God is good, I need to trust Him.

All of Job's children were killed in a day!  Then his body was horribly afflicted.  He did not shake his fist at God or anyone else.  This posture of Job is one I should strive for.  Job said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”  He also said, "Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?"

Other verses that might inspire me to trust when despairing:

Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Or this:

II Corinthians 4: "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

My absolute go to verses when I am overwhelmed with hopelessness are found in Psalm 62 in the Moffatt translation of the bible:

"Leave it all quietly with God, oh my soul, my help comes from Him alone.  Rock, refuge, rescue-He is all to me.  never will I be overthrown."

2 comments:

  1. Yes! you shared Ps. 62 with me in Sept. 2013 when I was in anguish about something with our children/their families...It became a lifeline. Thanks for reminding me...I want to have these scriptures burned in my mind because I think a day will come, when I will need them again~~!!! whether personally, or in my bigger world, my country....

    ReplyDelete
  2. I know! Thanks for responding!

    ReplyDelete