Series: Thanks
Colossians 3:16 ESV
Isaiah 55:8-11 ESV
Years ago I learned that when all else seems to ‘fail’ about me, I need to stop the bus (in my mind), get off, and go back to what I know to be true.
God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit is truth.
The Word of God is truth.
The Word is reliable.
Colossians 3:16 tells us, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Today, I rely on the Word.
I’ve had a rough week. Without going into the details, I can tell you I have felt like I had the rug pulled out from under me. Everything I thought was upended and I was frightened.
While it’s not the first time I’Ve experienced that, this time it came unexpectedly and I wasn’t prepared for it. Just when I think I know what God has planned, I am reminded I don’t understand the ways of God. I was reminded of that this week.
I was reminded of the words the Prophet Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 55:8-11:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth,making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty,but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
I was reminded we do not understand the ways of God.
Just when we often think we know what God has planned, the opposite happens.
Things that seemed really clear were suddenly murky. While this is not the first time I’ve experienced this feeling, it’s been several years since I’ve felt like the rug has been pulled out from under me.
Thankfully, because I’ve been here before a few times I know the best course of action I need to take. I know I need to ‘hunker down in God’ and turn to God’s Word. That’s because God’s Word is reliable.
The Word is filled with wisdom.
Singing songs of God helps.
Today I found myself repeating the words to the Apostle’s Creed over and over again. I learned the Common Worship Version of the creed many years ago. The origins of the creed date back to the Second Century and the creed we know today was established around the 6th and 7th Century. Today there are a few different versions of the Apostles Creed still in use.
I learned the Common Worship Version:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried;he descended to the dead.On the third day he rose again;he ascended into heaven,he is seated at the right hand of the Father,he will come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting.Amen.
When I feel like the rug has been pulled out from under me and I can’t get my footing, I turn to scripture.
I sing songs about God’s love. Mostly I sing the first song about God I learned in the late 1950’s…Jesus Loves Me.
I recite scripture, and I recite the Apostle’s Creed.
I am reminded that God is God and I am not. While I do not understand, God does understand and God has a plan.
The Apostle’s Creed is a great comfort and I repeat it over and over again.
I am reminded that God is on the throne. God is in charge. Even though I do not understand the plan, God does.
Spiritual Practice: Turn
Turn to God and lean in. God is in charge.
In God, Deborah
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