These are historic times in which we are living ... and it is unclear to anyone how recent events will impact our economic and political life in the next few years.  It would be very easy to give in to fear at a time like this ... there are financial forces at work that are way beyond any of our control that few understand yet the impact will be felt be every one of us.  Click here for an article I read today that I thought was pretty sane.

Recently, I heard a commentator speak to people's concern about stock investments and the danger of people pulling out during a dramatic downturn like we have experienced this week.  He said, "investments are like riding a roller coaster, the only people who get hurt are the ones who get off before the ride is over!" 

Well, I have thought about that and concluded that the same could be said for the Christian life.  Too often, we give in to fear and panic.  Then, instead of trusting the Lord, we make bad or sinful decisions in an effort to control the circumstances of our lives. Last Sunday morning, I preached from Isaiah 30 where God was disciplining the Israelites for their idolatry.  He sent prophets to warn them and call on them to repent and return to Him but to no avail.  So, God was using the Assyrian army as His instrument against Israel.  Rather than return to the Lord, they took matters into their own hands.  Isaiah 30:1-2 says, What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,” says the Lord. “You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed by my Spirit, thus piling up your sins.”                                                                           

In times of crisis, we need to turn to the Lord first and not last.  As I was praying through Psalm 91 this morning, I was struck by verses 1-3 which says, He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!" For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence.  These verses are so packed with meaning and encouragement that they are worth committing to memory and praying over asking God to speak to an encourage you if you are struggling.  Here are a few things that stand out to me:

* When we choose to trust God it is a choice to ""live there" (dwell) rather than something we decide to try and see if it will work.  It is "where we live" and reflects the way we think, pray and make our decisions.

* When we place our full and continuing trust in God then we are in His shadow ... He is so close to us that His shadow falls over us.  What a powerful picture of God's personal and intimate involvement in our life! We are standing so close we are in His very shadow!

* "I will say" affirms again that we each can choose to place our trust in God.  But, there will be challenges ... what if we trust God and He lets something bad happen, or things go in a way I don't like, what if ....?, or what if ...?  The truth is that we have to choose who and what we will trust. Either God is in control and his character is love and kindness toward us or it is not!  The alternative is to attempt to control our lives and be the "lord" of our own lives ... pretty scary stuff isn't it?

* God goes from being a shelter and then a refuge to becoming a fortress for us!  As we trust God over and over, our confidence in Him grows to the point we stand confidently behind the walls of our fortress saying, "bring it on" to whatever problems or concerns come against us!

* Often, we must trust in God before we see His provision for us.  Those are the times when doubt and second guessing yourself can eat your lunch.  Real faith means we trust God before His answer arrives.  While we cannot know the content of his answer, we can know the heart of God from which it comes ... and that is, most certainly, enough.

Folks, there is a lot going on in our country and our world.  We need to be people who stand firm in our trust in God.  Now, we must still pray, do our homework on candidates and vote; we must study the economy and make the best choices we can regarding work, investments, etc. We must start by talking to God and not react to "worst case scenarios" where fear prevails.

The Lord is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Let's not just trust in Him but rejoice from behind the wall of His provision and protection!

Pastor Paul